Brief reports of Primera Liga matches played on Sunday:
BARCELONA 2 ALAVES 0
Bottom side Alaves put up stubborn resistance against Barca, who were missing leading striker Samuel Eto'o and influential midfielder Deco, but could not stop the Catalans notching an 18th straight win that left them 10 points clear at the top.
Sweden striker Henrik Larsson got the breakthrough two minutes into the second half when he poked in from close range after keeper Franco Costanzo spilled a low pass from Ludovic Giuly.
Ronaldinho spurned a chance to extend their lead when he fired a penalty wide after Andres Iniesta was brought down in the area, but the Br azilian atoned for his error when he helped set Lionel Messi up for the second eight minutes from time.
DEPORTIVO CORUNA 2 REAL MALLORCA 2
Quick-fire goals by Japan striker Yoshito Okubo and Venezuela's Juan Arango allowed Hector Cuper's Mallorca to fight back from two goals down to claim a valuable away point.
Playmaker Juan Carlos Valeron put the Galicians ahead when he clipped a low shot in at the near post after controlling with his chest and Diego Tristan made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after Valeron was pushed in the area seven minutes later.
Okubo began the fightback early in the second half when he flung himself at a Jonas Gutierrez's cross to send a header into the far corner and Arango equalised three minutes later by squeezing a sharp shot past keeper Jose Molina.
GETAFE 5 ESPANYOL 0
Getafe made up for their King's Cup exit at the hands of the Catalans with a crushing victory at the Coliseo.
Striker Daniel Guiza put Getafe in front with a sharp header in the fourth minute and Argentine left back Mariano Pernia made it 2-0 midway through the half as he applied a deft finish with the outside of his boot after Guiza wafted in a cross.
Guiza looped a header over keeper Gorka Iraizoz after 65 minutes to make it 3-0 and Pernia scored the goal of the day with a 35-metre thunderbolt free kick that was still gathering speed when it fizzed into the back of the net.
Midfielder Jaime Gavilan completed the rout when he hooked in from close range four minutes from time.
MALAGA 0 CELTA VIGO 2
Celta renewed their bid for a European place with this win as the problems mount for Malaga, who dropped into the relegation zone after a third straight defeat.
Former Liverpool midfielder Antonio Nunez scored the first when he burst between two defenders after picking up a fine through ball from Jorge and slotted home past keeper Francesc Arnau less than a minute into the second half.
David Silva secured the points 20 minutes from time when he lifted a follow-up header over Arnau after the keeper blocked a powerful drive from Javi Guerrero.
RACING SANTANDER 2 SEVILLA 3
Sevilla took the points thanks to two fiercely disputed Enzo Maresca penalties at the start of the second half, the first after a Jesus Navas dive and the second when Adriano Correia went to ground when he was brushed by defender Jose Moraton.
Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Frederic Kanoute had given Sevilla the lead with a trademark near-post header but Racing hit back before the break when youngster Juanjo steered in after a neat headed assist from Chile striker Mauricio Pinilla.
The result hinged on Maresca's penalties, however, and Felipe Melo's header six minutes from time came too late for the home side.
REAL BETIS 0 VALENCIA 2
In-form David Villa struck twice to help Valencia to a win at struggling Betis that allowed them to leapfrog Osasuna into second place in the standings.
The Spain international grabbed his first 10 minutes before the break when he pounced on a poor clearance, checked inside a defender and fired low past Toni Doblas into the far corner.
He took his total for the season to 13 when he rifled into the far corner after the Betis defence gave him time and space to run at them 12 minutes from time.
REAL SOCIEDAD 3 ATHLETIC BILBAO 3
Honours even in an action-packed Basque derby at Anoeta although neither side will be satisfied with just a point.
Turkey's Nihat, who rejected a move to Spartak Moscow to remain at Sociedad this season, scored with two great first-half strikes but Athletic stormed back with two marvellously worked goals from striker Aritz Aduriz after the break.
Sociedad looked to have secured the win with a well-taken effort from the impressive Morten Skoubo but midfielder Andoni Iraolo popped up at the far post deep into injury time to earn a well deserved point for troubled Athletic.
VILLARREAL 2 OSASUNA 1
Another game decided by a pair of controversial penalties as playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme gave Villarreal their first win in four outings with two second-half spot kicks.
Midfielder Raul Garcia put the Navarrans ahead as he caught keeper Sebastian Viera off guard with a 25-metre snap shot.
But forward Antonio Guayre won the home side two dubious penalties when he went to ground in the 70th and 76th minutes and Riquelme made no mistake with his two spot kicks.
Played on Saturday:
REAL MADRID 3 CADIZ 1
Real looked to be heading for defeat after Uruguayan striker Alexandre Medina put Cadiz in front early in the second half, but spectacular set-piece goals from Roberto Carlos and David Beckham turned the game on its head.
The Br azilian fullback sent a trademark rocket shot fizzing low into the net after Beckham had touched a free kick into his path and the England captain scored with a sweetly struck curler four minutes later.
Robinho secured the points for the home side when he scored with a fine dipping lob after beating the offside trap seven minutes from time.
REAL ZARAGOZA 0 ATLETICO MADRID 2
A first league win in 11 outings that provides much-needed relief for under-performing Atletico and their newly appointed coach Pepe Murcia.
Maxi Rodriguez put the visitors ahead just before the half hour when he poked a shot under advancing Zaragoza keeper Cesar after he had scorched down the right wing to meet a clever through ball from playmaker Ariel Ibagaza.
The Argentine winger then helped secure the victory when he won his side a penalty early in the second half after he was felled by Cesar in the area. Fernando Torres converted from the spot to inflict a first defeat in seven games on Victor Munoz's side.