Raúl resplendent as Madrid close gap

Real Madrid CF have reduced FC Barcelona's Spanish Liga lead to four points after Raúl González struck a hat-trick in a 4-2 win at Sevilla FC, while Villarreal CF boosted their prospects of returning to the UEFA Champions League by prevailing 2-1 at Getafe CF.

Comeback win
Barça's 2-2 draw at Valencia CF presented the capital outfit with a chance to pile on the pressure ahead of next Saturday's eagerly awaited encounter at the Santiago Bernabéu, but they found themselves trailing with 16 minutes gone when Renato headed the hosts ahead. That was how it stayed until Raúl scored his first just before half-time, and the 31-year-old shot high into the net after 63 minutes before pouncing on an Andrés Palop error to grab his third three minutes later. Diego Capel (80) then reduced the deficit to set up a tense finish, only for Marcelo (90) to help the visitors over the line.

European race
That proved to be Sevilla's third reverse in succession and they remain just a point better off than fourth-placed Valencia, with Villarreal a further point back in the race for a top-four finish. The Yellow Submarine inflicted a third consecutive loss on 17th-placed Getafe courtesy of Joan Capdevila (16) and Joseba Llorente (43), with both teams losing a player to a second-half red card. Getafe now lie a solitary point outside the bottom three after RCD Espanyol lifted themselves up to 16th by overcoming Real Betis Balompié 2-0.

Five dismissals
Fellow strugglers RC Recreativo de Huelva succumbed 4-2 at home to RCD Mallorca, while Real Sporting de Gijón, in 18th, went down 3-1 at Club Atlético de Madrid. Real Valladolid CF drew 0-0 with CA Osasuna and five players were dismissed as Athletic Club Bilbao defeated Real Racing Club 2-1, hosts Athletic ending with nine men and Racing with eight.