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Match round-up - First Division, Day 10

A thrilling last match of the weekend saw Sevilla beat Villarreal 3-2 to stay within three points of Real Madrid. Luis Fabiano showed excellent control to start things off for the Andalusians in the ninth minute, but Pires equalised on the half hour mark after picking up a return pass from Bruno, and David Fuster put the visitors ahead in the second half after Palop could only push out a Pires centre. Two minutes later though Luis Fabiano levelled the scores once again with a looping header, and four minutes after that Kanouté headed the winner from another Adriano's cross.

Valencia moved back up to the Champions League spots after a 3-1 victory over Zaragoza earlier in the evening. Mata took advantage of the visiting defence's confusion over a possible offside to run on to Silva's through ball and score with just over a quarter of an hour gone. And Villa and Pablo set each other up for two more shortly before half time. Only some brave goalkeeping by López Vallejo prevented the scoreline from increasing, but Abel Aguilar did get one back for Marcelino's side after César could only push out a long shot from Babic.

Sporting Gijón and Espanyol started the day level on points in seventh and eighth places respectively, but it was the Asturians who came away with the spoils after a 1-0 victory. The only goal of the game came in the third minute, Bilic deflecting Diego Castro's angled shot past Kameni. Iván Alonso hit the bar, and Callejón fired a couple of shots at Juan Pablo before the break, and Nakamura tested the local keeper again after the restart. But the home side held fast, and Diego Castro could have increased the lead when he shot just wide near the end.

Athletic Bilbao are level with Sporting after a 0-2 victory at Racing Santander. Gurpegui headed the first from Castillo's wide free kick in the twentieth minute, and Iraola got the second from the penalty spot after Lacen tripped Ion Vélez a quarter of an hour from the end. The Cantabrians have now only picked up one point at home out of five games, and all signs are that coach Mandía is on his way out.

Almería climbed away from the danger zone with a 2-0 win over Osasuna. Hugo Sánchez's side took the lead in the second minute when Josetxo could only head the rebound in to his own net after Ricardo pushed out Guilherme's cross. Pandiani came close to equalising a couple of times, but Kalu Uche eventually settled matters with a second goal in the dying minutes after Piatti and Ortíz combined to set him up.

Xerez moved back off the bottom of the table after the Andalusians held Valladolid to a 0-0 draw. Cuco Ziganda's side have yet to score a single goal away from home, although they did go close with an overhead kick from Bermejo near to half time. The locals replied with an equally spectacular effort from Manucho, but otherwise neither keeper was particularly troubled. (08.11.09)

Leaders Barcelona kept up their unbeaten league record with a comfortable 4-2 win over Mallorca. After the gruelling trip tp Kazan midweek, Guardiola left several of his key players on the bench, but even so Pedro ran on to Ibrahimovic's back-heel pass to open the scoring with only ten minutes gone. Nunes equalised with a diving header following a corner, but Pedro scored his second of the night after Aouate blocked three previous shots in a row. Henry added to the lead before the break following a set piece free kick, and Messi came on to make it four from the penalty spot before Keita got another one back for the visitors in injury time.

Real Madrid are still only a point behind Barcelona though after a 2-3 victory over city rivals Atlético Madrid later in the evening. Kaká gave Pellegrini's side the lead in only the fifth minute after Lass won the ball off Cléber, and Marcelo made it two a few minutes later after Benzema put him through. Casillas did well to save from Simao before the break, and Higuaín won the ball off a hesitant Perea to run on and score the third soon after the restart. But Sergio Ramos was sent off for a foul on half time substitute Agüero, and Atlético came back with two goals in a minute from Forlán and Agüero to set up a nail-biting finish.

Deportivo are up to fourth pending Sunday's games after a 0-2 victory at Getafe. Mista headed the Galicians in to an early lead from Filipe's cross, but soon afterwards Riki was sent off for a second bookable offence after the referee ruled incorrectly that he had handled the ball. Pedro León went close with a free kick and Gavilán brought a good save out of Aranzubia either side of half time, but Filipe scored his side's second after Mista unselfishly played Guardado's cross in to his path. Depor were left with nine men after Sergio also picked up a second yellow card, but they held on for a heroic win.

Málaga climbed off the bottom of the table after a 2-2 draw at Tenerife, although Xerez could get back above them if they can pick up a point on Sunday. The Canary Islanders seemed to be on the way to victory when they went two up midway through the first half, Román turning in Omar's cross and Alfaro beating Munúa for a second time after Kome set him up. However just two minutes later Edinho got one back after Aragoneses beat out an effort from Obinna, and youngster Javi López saved a point with the equaliser a quarter of an hour from the end.