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Match round-up - First Division, Day 9

The Monday night game between Valladolid and Real Sociedad ended in a 2-2 draw, a result which leaves both clubs currently in mid-table. Honours were shared early on, with Chori Castro and Illarramendi going close for the visitors, and Ebert and Javi Guerra bringing good saves out of Zubikarai at the other end. With ten minutes to go to the interval Griezmann put the visitors ahead after Castro's corner fell to him, but Guerra tested Zubikarai again before Ebert beat him with a low shot from outside of the area. After the restart Griezmann clipped the crossbar before picking up a short pass from Carlos Vela to fire home his second of the night, but once again Djukic's side came back, Oscar running on to Ebert's lofted pass to head the ball over the advancing keeper. A point apiece in the end, although José Angel almost won it for the Basque team in injury time with a shot from the halfway line which keeper Dani Hernández just managed to tip over the bar. (29.10.12)

Atlético Madrid stay level with Barcelona at the top of the table after beating Osasuna 3-1 on Sunday evening. The Colchoneros have not had such a good start to the campaign since their double winning team in the 1995-6 season, and once again they dominated from the beginning, with Raúl García and Cristian Rodríguez bringing good saves out of Andrés. With just over half an hour on the clock Miranda got above the defence to head the opener from Gabi's wide free kick, and four minutes later Raúl García scored the second against his old side after picking up a poor headed clearance by Arribas. The visitors fought back though, Courtois having to save a Kike Sola header before the striker laid the ball back for Lamah to fire a shot wide of the keeper. But with twenty minutes to go Falcao got on the end of Juanfran's cross to restore the two goal lead, and although Armenteros tested Courtois a couple of times, the result was never in doubt. The defeat leaves the Pamplona based side at the foot of the table, although with only five points separating the bottom five it is too early yet for real concern.

Real Madrid hold on to fourth spot, still eight points behind the two leaders, after a comfortable 0-5 victory at Mallorca in the last match on Sunday night. With only seven minutes gone Mourinho's side were ahead, Conceiçao unable to cut out Di María's chipped pass allowing Higuaín to beat Aouate with a shot on the turn. Casiilas had little to do, and midway through the first half a quick passing move across the front of the area ended with Cristiano Ronaldo drilling an angled shot past the keeper. The two goalscorers assisted each other again in the second half, Ronaldo slipping the ball through for Higuaín to make it three, and the Argentinian striker returning the favour with a ball behind the defence which Ronaldo poked past the advancing keeper for the fourth. And with the game already in injury time Özil broke free on the left of the area, and Aouate could only deflect his shot in to the path of Callejón for him to score the fifth. A result which matched Barcelona's from the day before, but the distance between them remains the same.

Sevilla were beaten 2-1 by Zaragoza earlier in the day though, a result which left them out of the European spots by the end of the weekend. The Maños got off to the better start, with Palop having to save from Víctor Rodríguez and Apoño, although the best chance of the opening minutes fell to Negredo, who was gifted the ball by Movilla but then ran on to shoot wide with the goal at his mercy. With ten minutes to go to the break Postiga gave the locals the lead, picking up Zuculini's headed pass and rounding Botía and then Palop to score, and with the first half coming to a close Sapunaru got above his marker to head the second from a long Víctor Rodríguez free kick. Apoño brought another good save out of the visiting keeper after the restart, but with twenty minutes to go Roberto had to save from Babá, and Sapunaru could only clear the rebound as far as Medel, whose first time shot deflected off Loovens in to the net. After that there were some nervous moments for the home fans, and Babá should have equalised had he not dallied too long on the ball when free on goal with ten minutes to go.

Levante took advantage of Sevilla's defeat to move above them to sixth after a 3-1 victory over Granada later on in the afternoon. Local striker Obafemi Martins was celebrating his 28th birthday, and he was given a present early on when he won the ball off a hesitant Iñigo López before drilling a low shot wide of Toño. There was little action from then on up to the break, but after the restart Toño had to be at his best to keep out Barkero before Martins collected a long throw-in and turned past three defenders to score his side's second. El-Arabi felt he should have had a penalty a few minutes later when a defender blocked his shot with his arm, but soon afterwards Pedro Ríos put the home side three up after running on to Michel's through ball. El-Arabi did get a late consolation after Ighalo set him up, but it was another defeat for the Andalusians, who are now just a point above the drop zone.

Athletic Bilbao's poor start to the season continues, and they stay level with Granada after losing 1-2 at home to Getafe. Bielsa's side went behind in only the twelfth minute, Juan Rodríguez losing his marker to head Pedro León's free kick past Iraizoz. Aduríz went close a couple of times at the other end, but Iraizoz had to be at his best to keep out Barrada, Rodríguez and Abraham either side of half time, and a quarter of an hour in to the second half Alvaro Vázquez made it two with an acrobatic volley after Rodríguez headed on Valera's throw-in. Bielsa had no option but to turn to Llorente, and the Spanish international striker headed against the bar before heading on Isma's corner for San José to poke a shot past Moyà. But the goal came too late to change the result, and the disgruntled fans whistled their players off the park at the end of the match. Athletic are one of only three clubs who have never been relegated from the first division, although on this sort of form, that could change this year. (28.10.12)

Leaders Barcelona equalled their best ever start to a season after beating Rayo Vallecano 0-5 in the last match on Saturday evening. It was a fairly flattering result though, with three of the goals coming in the last ten minutes. David Villa opened the scoring midway through the first half after latching on to a pass from Fàbregas, and Messi went close a couple of times before picking up a cross from Montoya to make it two soon after the restart. Rayo had their chances too though, Delibasic going close a couple of times either side of half time, and Javi Fuego testing Valdés with two long shots early in the second half. With ten minutes to go however Xavi got on the end of Jordi Alba's pass to slide a shot wide of Rubén, and a minute later Fàbregas scored a fourth after connecting with Pedro's cross. With the game coming to an end Messi rounded things off after Fàbregas put him through to beat Rubén once again, and substitute Alexis could have added a sixth had he not shot straight at the local keeper in injury time.

Meanwhile Málaga hold on to third spot after a 0-0 draw at Espanyol earlier in the evening. After the intense midweek battle with AC Milan, Pellegrini rested some of his more veteran players, with Joaquín and Saviola in particular starting on the bench. Even so they had the better chances if any in a fairly eventless first half, Duda testing Cristian Alvarez early on with a long shot, and Demichelis heading wide a couple of times. Forlín headed wide as well from a first half corner, and after the interval Wakaso missed the target and Caballero had no problems saving from Albín. Joaquín came on and caused a few problems down the wing, and Alvarez did well to turn an injury time Santa Cruz header away for a corner, but in the end a draw was a fair result.

Betis are now fourth pending the rest of the weekend's results after beating Valencia 1-0. Although their midweek win against Borisov brought their Champions League campaign back on track, the Ches are struggling in the league, this their fourth away defeat of the season. Salva Sevilla scored what was to prove the only goal in the ninth minute, visiting keeper Diego Alves unable to keep out his first time volley after Rami could only clear a José Carlos cross in to his path. Joel Campbell and Cañas could have increased the lead either side of half time, but after the restart the visitors came close to saving a point, Soldado and Viera shooting just wide and young keeper Adrián having to make top class saves from a Tino Costa free kick and a couple of efforts from Soldado.

The Galician derby between Celta and Deportivo returned to the top flight after both sides were promoted last summer, with honours shared as the game ended in a 1-1 draw. The home side took the lead early on, Iago Aspas's cross taking two deflections before reaching Mario Bermejo, who turned the ball in to the net on the far post. A few minutes later Aranzubia had to turn another shot from Aspas around the post, but with half an hour on the clock Juan Domínguez levelled the scores after Valerón put him through. The locals were left with ten men when Cabral picked up two bookings in three minutes at the start of the second half, but either side could have scored after that, Javi Varas saving a Pizzi free kick and Nelson Oliveira heading wide for the visitors, and Roberto Lago and Iago Aspas firing shots just past the post at the other end. (27.10.12)