Madrid rejoin Liga leaders with Getafe stroll

Real Madrid CF kept up the pace at the top of the Spanish Liga with a 3-0 success at Getafe CF, following an important win for Granada CF against Real Betis Balompié.

Victory on Saturday for both FC Barcelona and Club Atlético de Madrid put the onus on Carlo Ancelotti's side to respond and they went ahead on just five minutes, Jesé curling in after being released by Gareth Bale. Karim Benzema then finished from Ángel Di María's cross, before Luka Modrić struck midway through the second half to ensure his side moved back level with their title rivals on 60 points.

Lower down the table, Granada CF eased their relegation fears by downing bottom club Betis 1-0 at home, Piti firing the only goal after 31 minutes. Granada lost Dani Benítez to a late red card and Antonio Amaya was subsequently dismissed for Betis as the hosts climbed up to 12th.

In the first of the evening games, fourth-placed Athletic Club suffered a 2-1 home reverse at the hands of RCD Espanyol, Diego Colotto scoring the winner before Aritz Aduriz was sent off for Athletic. Rounding off Sunday's action, Valencia CF secured a goalless draw at Sevilla FC despite Ricardo Costa's 50th-minute sending-off, their hosts losing Denis Cheryshev the same way in added time.