Valencia vindicate title hopes

Valencia CF kept up the pressure on Primera División leaders Real Madrid CF by coming from behind to defeat Villarreal CF 4-2 at the Mestalla on Sunday.

Raúl strike
A solitary goal from Raúl González had enabled Real Madrid CF to temporarily stretch their lead to five points on Saturday with victory against struggling Real Murcia CF - their sixth consecutive league win. But quick-fire second-half goals from Rubén Baraja and Pablo Aimar put Valencia on the path to success after Juan Riquelme had given UEFA Cup hopefuls Villarreal the lead.

Red card
Once Villarreal's Sergio Ballesteros was sent off and Baraja's second stretched the lead to 3-1 it seemed Valencia would coast to victory, but Juliano Belletti's 78th-minute effort ensured a nervous spell until Miguel Angulo restored the two-goal cushion at the death.

Coach apology
RC Celta de Vigo coach Miguel Ángel Lotina apologised to supporters following his side's 5-0 home defeat at the hands of third-placed RC Deportivo La Coruña on Saturday. After Alberto Luque's opener, Víctor Sánchez scored a hat-trick and Diego Tristán completed the rout as Deportivo swept aside Celta, ensuring they slipped into the bottom three. "All I can do is ask forgiveness from the supporters," said Lotina. "We didn't play at the level required in this division."

Honours even
CA Osasuna continue to edge out Club Atlético de Madrid for fourth spot by virtue of a healthier goal difference after both sides were held at the weekend. Osasuna drew 1-1 against Athletic Club Bilbao while Atlético played out a goalless draw with Real Zaragoza at La Romareda - a scoreline matched in the game between Real Valladolid CF and Real Betis Balompié.

Barça slip
Elsewhere, Frank Rijkaard's FC Barcelona slipped to 12th after a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Real Racing Club Santander and last season's surprise package Real Sociedad de Fútbol climbed out of the bottom three with a 2-1 away victory against Málaga CF. They had to come from behind, but goals from Valeri Karpin and Nihat Kahveci halted an alarming run of 13 games in all competitions without victory.

Precious win
Bottom club RCD Espanyol also recorded a precious win on Sunday, ending a five-match losing streak with a 2-0 triumph at home against RCD Mallorca thanks to Raúl Tamudo's double. The weekend's other game also finished in a 2-0 home win, Sevilla FC defeating Albacete Balompié at the Sánchez Pizjuán.