First division - day 5

Valencia hold on to top spot after a 4-2 win over Deportivo on Sunday evening. The visitors took the lead when Moretti deflected Pablo Alvarez's cross past his own keeper in the eleventh minute, but Mata headed the equaliser from Joaquín's cross before the break, and David Villa put his side ahead just four minutes after the restart with a shot which Aranzubia couldn't stop. Mata set up Joaquín and then Villa for two more later in the second half, and Lafita got one back near the end with defenders waiting in vain for an offside whistle.

Sevilla moved up to fourth with a 0-1 victory at Atlético Madrid, revenge in part for the double defeat last season which cost the Andalusians a place in the Champions League. Luis Fabiano got the only goal from a well-struck free kick midway through the first half, and the Brazilian striker could have added to the scoreline with a header against the bar in the second half.

Atlético drop out of the top six after Almería beat Recreativo 1-0 to move above Aguirre's side in the table. The visitors held on up to the last minute despite having Jesús Vázquez and Oliveira sent off late on for second bookable offences, but with the game in the fifth minute of time added on Negredo got the winner after Crusat's shot came back off the post.

Mallorca are just two points off the European spots after coming from behind to beat Racing Santander 1-2. Marcano headed the Cantabrians into the lead from Colsa's free kick, but Varela levelled the scores on the stroke of half time with an angled shot past Toño. And with a draw seemingly on the cards, Webó headed home Jurado's corner to leave their opponents in next to bottom spot.

Getafe are level on points with Mallorca after a late 0-1 win at Athletic Bilbao. The locals had several chances to take the lead, and Llorente had a goal disallowed for a dubious offside. But they couldn't beat an on-form Jacobo, and with three minutes to go Casquero won it for the visitors with a chip over the head of Iraizoz in to the top corner of the net.

Málaga clocked up their first victory of the season after beating Valladolid 2-1. Lolo opened the scoring on the half hour mark following a corner, his side's first goal of the current campaign, and Adrián got the second after Eliseu set him up early in the second half. Pedro León got one back for the visitors, and there were some nervous moments for the home fans before the final whistle.

Numancia and Osasuna drew 0-0 in their match on Sunday evening, a result which left them both two points above the relegation spots. It was dull match with virtually no chances, the only time either side came close to scoring when a Javier Flaño cross bounced off the bar. The locals ended with ten men after Juan Carlos Moreno was sent off for a foul on Plasil near the end. (28.09.08)

An incident packed day, with Real Madrid and Barcelona both winning exciting matches in injury time. The current leaders though pending Sunday's games are Villarreal, who beat Sporting Gijón 0-1 to move back above Valencia to top spot. After letting in 13 goals in their last two games, Sporting coach Manuel Preciado made nine changes to his line up. And his side could have got their first point of the season had it not been for a controversial goal midway through the second half, Ibagaza's corner clearly hitting Godín on the hand before Rossi fired a shot past Cuéllar. The incident cost Preciado a red card for protesting.

Villarreal stay one point ahead of Real Madrid, who beat Betis 1-2 thanks to an injury time strike from Van Nistelrooy. Heinze headed the visitors in to the lead from Van der Vaart's free kick in the eighteenth minute, and only a couple of first class saves by Casto from De la Red prevented the scoreline from increasing. But Marcelo gave away a penalty and got himself sent off ten minutes in to the second half, and although Casillas saved Sergio García's spot kick, the forward scored on the rebound. García got himself sent off though with ten minutes to go, and in the last minute Van Nistelrooy ran on to Robben's pass to score the winner.

Controversy later in the evening as well as Barcelona beat city rivals Espanyol 1-2. Coro opened the scoring for the locals after Valdés pushed out a high ball as Luis García jabbed him in the ribs, but the locals were left with ten men when Nené was sent off for a second bookable offence on the stroke of half time. The game was stopped for ten minutes due to crowd trouble after the break, but when it restarted Henry equalised after Kameni's clearance hit Jarque and fell to him. And in the dying seconds Medina awarded the visitors a hotly disputed penalty when Pareja tackled Eto'o in the area, Messi slotting home the kick to win the match. (27.09.08)