06.12.2010 18:36

Spanish League Round Up Week 14

Nick Bedson

Real Madrid showed there is still life after a thrashing at the Nou Camp with a 2-0 win against Valencia, whilst Villarreal and Espanyol both won to consolidate their top four spots.

In a weekend marked by travelling difficulties in Spain, it was the home teams who took advantage, with Barça the only away team to win. Madrid, Villarreal and Espanyol all won their games, whilst Real Sociedad and Getafe took advantage of Valencia, Mallorca, Atletico Madrid and Mallorca’s defeats to threaten the UEFA spots.

Red card for Albelda helps Madrid to win

Jose Mourinho’s Madrid overcame Valencia 2-0 at the Bernabeu with two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, but they needed a questionable second half red card for Valencia’s Albelda to help overcome Valencia. Villarreal stay five points behind Madrid in third after a Nilmar goal on the half hour gave them a 1-0 win over the fading Seville. Manzano’s team have lost their last three league games and slipped to tenth on 20 points, eight points behind Espanyol, for whom a second half Luis Garcia strike was enough to take the points against Sporting and extend their winning home record to 7 wins from 7 so far this season.

Real go sixth

Valencia stay in fifth on 24 points with Real Sociedad just two points behind them after a Xabi Prieto strike and a San Jose own goal gave them a 2-0 win in the Basque derby against Bilbao. Mallorca lie one point behind Real after going down 3-0 in Getafe, who move up to ninth, a point behind the Islanders. Atletico Madrid are level on points with Getafe after a typically frustrating 2-0 defeat to Levante on Saturday – their third on the run in all competitions.

Malaga did their chances of survival a world of good with a stunning 4-1 win over Racing which lifts them three points clear of the bottom three.