A tale of three comebacks

VILLARREAL October 26 (Primera Liga) - Villarreal and Atletico Madrid shared eight goals in an extraordinary game at El Madrigal on Sunday evening.

Atletico raced into a 2-0 interval lead with strikes from Simao Sabrosa and Diego Forlan, only to see that overturned as the hosts came roaring back at the start of the second half.

The visitors had lost Ever Banega to a second yellow card in the 38th minute and Villarreal took full advantage of the extra man, Marcos Senna, Joseba Llorente, Gonzalo and Guiseppe Rossi all getting on the scoresheet.

However, late goals from Simao and Raul Garcia rescued an unlikely point for the visitors from a game in which Villarreal dominated possession and chances.

After falling victim to an early goal in last weekend's Madrid derby, Atletico wasted no time in making their mark on this clash as Simao netted from outside the box with 60 seconds barely on the clock.

The Portugal midfielder latched on to a ball from Mariano Pernia and hammered an instant shot in off the underside of the crossbar with home keeper Diego Lopez still rooted to the spot.

The hosts were shell-shocked but soon responded with a wave of attacks on the visitors' goal.

Rossi got on the end of a Llorente cross but couldn't direct his header on target before Llorente went close with a couple of headers from Senna crosses, the first saved by Leo Franco down to his left, the second dropping wide of the target.

For all the territorial advantage Villarreal were having, it was Atletico who went further ahead after 22 minutes, Forlan hooking home a left-footed shot from a central position inside the 18-yard box.

Atletico's recent troubles showed signs of resurfacing though when Banega was sent off after collecting his second booking for a needless foul on Joan Capdevila.

And worse was to come as, three minutes after the restart, Senna tried his luck with a harmless looking shot from 30 yards and was surprised to see it squirm through the grasp of Leo Franco and into the net.

Three minutes later, Villarreal were level when Llorente poked home a throughball from Rossi to round off a swift counter attack.

Then just before the hour-mark, Rossi lifted a free-kick into the area to find three yellow shirts totally unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box as the Atletico defence attempted to push up and play them offside.

The flag stayed down and Robert Pires cushioned the ball into the path of Gonzalo who smashed the ball into the roof of the net and wheeled away in jubilation.

Villarreal were now threatening to run riot and it was no surprise when they added a fourth when Rossi fired home a left-foot shot on 68 minutes.

At that stage, the points appeared to be going only one way but the complexion of the game changed again when Simao hit a right-footed shot into the bottom corner on 83 minutes.

The hosts suddenly became nervy and were punished when Garcia headed home an in-swinging free-kick from Simao to snatch a dramatic draw.

Barcelona 5-0 Almeria

Barcelona produced a wondrous first-half display to sweep aside Almeria 5-0 in the sides' Primera Liga clash at the Nou Camp on Saturday night and secure their ninth consecutive win in style.

Samuel Eto'o bagged a first half hat-trick and further goals from Thierry Henry and Dani Alves saw Pep Guardiola's side race into a five-goal lead at the interval.

And Almeria were forced to play the entire second half with 10 men after Alvaro Negredo was dismissed for a frustrated lunge on Rafael Marquez.

It was the Catalans' second 5-0 win in a week after Wednesday's demolition of FC Basle in the Champions League.

And Barcelona came into this came on the back of eight successive victories in total.

The Catalans had scored 29 times in 10 matches to become Europe's most prolific attacking side this season, but Guardiola rejected comparisons with Johan Cruyff's mythical `Dream Team' in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

However, Barca quickly had their fans drooling again with their penetrating brand of touch football.

Just five minutes had elapsed when the first goal went in.

Yaya Toure's ball from deep was only half-cleared by the Almeria defence and Eto'o pounced on the rebound to give Barcelona a perfect start.

Eight minutes later, the Catalans went two up as Messi set up Henry and the Frenchman slotted home from close-range.

Almeria had again failed to clear their lines and were punished once more.

But Barcelona were practically unplayable at this point and raced into a three-goal lead after 20 minutes.

Andres Iniesta found Xavi in the area and the star of Spain's Euro 2008 win waited for Almeria keeper Diego Alves to commit himself before sliding a perfectly-weighted ball across to Eto'o, who rolled his shot into the empty net.

It was all too easy for the home side and three became four shortly afterwards, when Messi got to the byline and rolled the ball back for the advancing Eto'o, who finished at the second attempt from close-range with an improvised back-heel.

Already four goals down, Almeria's early misery was compounded on the half-hour mark, when Negredo scythed down Marquez close to the corner flag and received a straight red card.

Barcelona continued to look like scoring with every attack and duly went five goals ahead after 37 minutes.

There appeared little danger as Dani Alves lined up a free-kick from long-range, but the Brazil full-back unleashed a vicious low drive which found its way through the wall and bounced just in front of his namesake Alves in the Almeria goal before flashing into the keeper's bottom right-hand corner.

With the game well and truly won, Barca began the second half at a slower pace.

And Almeria created the first chance of the second half, when Guilherme rifled a shot against the crossbar from long distance after 47 minutes.

Barcelona remained a joy to watch, though, and Henry brought the ball down gloriously in the area after 51 minutes, but was unable to hit the target on the turn.

Two minutes later, the former Arsenal forward set up Iniesta in the area, but the Spain midfielder unselfishly pulled the ball back across goal instead of shooting himself and Almeria cleared.

Bojan Krkic, Alexander Hleb and Victor Sanchez all came on in the latter stages, but Barcelona were unable to add to their tally.

Eto'o came closest with a low shot after being set up by Carles Puyol, but Alves made a fine save with his left foot.

Barca were nevertheless given a rapturous ovation on leaving the pitch and the win sees the Catalans move provisionally to the top of the Primera Liga, where they sit level on points with Valencia, who travel to lowly Recreativo Huelva on Sunday.

Almeria remain in sixth, but could drop several places after Sunday's matches.

Emery heals rifts to inspire Valencia

MADRID, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Valencia have been transformed from a strife-ridden side that flirted with relegation last season to the early Primera Liga leaders thanks to new coach Unai Emery's ability to unite the dressing room.

The east coast side, who visit Recreativo Huelva on Sunday, started the last campaign as contenders for the title but fell apart after the club panicked and sacked Quique Sanchez Flores and appointed Ronald Koeman in his place.

The Dutchman helped cause a rift within the squad by dropping stalwarts Santiago Canizares, David Albelda and Miguel Angel Angulo and telling them they were surplus to requirements.

Valencia plummeted down the standings and although they won the King's Cup, Koeman was sacked just before the end of the campaign.

Emery, 36, arrived from Almeria in July with one season of top-flight experience, but has made in immediate impact with few changes to the squad. A great tactician and motivator, he has won over a tough dressing room in a short space of time.

"He has surprised us all because he knows how to get the most out of the squad. He came in with his arms wide open and has tried to get the best from every one of us," said Albelda, who has been restored to the side.

Winger Vicente has said there are many similarities now with the side Rafael Benitez led to the league title in 2002 and 2004. They top the standings with six wins from seven games, and have scored 17 goals to just four conceded.

Struggling Recre are third from bottom and without a win in six outings, though they put on a much-improved performance under new coach Lucas Alcaraz last weekend, drawing 1-1 at Valladolid.

Second-placed Sevilla are at home to Andalucian rivals Malaga on Sunday with both teams on winning streaks, while third-placed Villarreal host an Atletico Madrid side seeking a lift from three consecutive league defeats.

Champions Real Madrid receive Athletic Bilbao at the Bernabeu in Sunday's late game but will be without suspended Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Barcelona will be looking for their sixth consecutive league victory when Almeria visit the Nou Camp on Saturday.

Eto'o secures points for Barca

RafaRivas

Barcelona celebrate after Eto'o smashed home the winner

Barcelona remained within three points of Primera Liga leaders Valencia following a hard-fought 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday night. Samuel Eto'o struck the only goal of the game midway through the second half after a fine run by Thierry Henry. Barca coach Pep Guardiola left captain Carles Puyol and winger Lionel Messi on the bench following their international exploits last week.

Late pen settles fiery derby

Higuain celebrates his dramatic late winner.

MADRID, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Gonzalo Higuain scored an injury-time penalty to earn Real Madrid a 2-1 away victory over Atletico Madrid in the city derby on Saturday.

The Argentine buried a spot kick in the last minute, just after Portugal winger Simao Sabrosa had grabbed an 89th-minute equaliser for Atletico with a freekick.

Atletico have not beaten their neighbours since June 1999 and were trailing after only 40 seconds when the Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy netted from distance.

The home side had defender Luis Perea sent off, and Van Nistelrooy followed him for another red card before the break.

With both sides reduced to 10 men, Atletico pressed hard and looked to have at least grabbed a point at the end, before John Heitinga tripped Royston Drenthe in the area for the penalty in the 97th minute.

"We have proven many times that we are capable of scoring goals right up to the last minute," said Real coach Bernd Schuster, who went on to criticise the referee.

"Van Nistelrooy's sending off was clearly a case of compensating the other side. It was because of the referee we didn't win 5-1."

Real made it six unbeaten matches in the league, while Atletico have now slumped to three defeats in a row.

In the late game, Villarreal were held to a 0-0 draw at Espanyol that put them one point clear at the top, ahead of Real and Valencia. Valencia host Numancia on Sunday when Barcelona visit Athletic Bilbao.

At the Calderon, there appeared to be little on for Van Nistelrooy when he received the ball with his back to goal in the first minute, but he was given space to turn and surprised Leo Franco at his near post.

Wesley Sneijder then hit the bar and Sergio Aguero replied for the home side hitting the post soon after. The game was thrown open when Perea was red-carded after he caught Sneijder in the face with a flailing arm.

But Van Nistelrooy soon followed after the referee harshly showed him a red for clumsily upending Maniche.

Atletico pressed on after the break but struggled to beat Iker Casillas until they won a freekick on the edge of the area at the end. Simao curled it over the wall to spark wild celebrations on the pitch and in the stands.

But it only lasted a few minutes and there was a sense of inevitability as Atletico went on to concede the penalty deep into injury time.

"Simao's goal was just reward for our audacity after the break, but it is devastating to concede a goal in the first and 96th minutes," said Atletico coach Javier Aguirre.

Valencia 4-0 Numancia

Valencia opened up a two-point gap at the top of the Primera Liga following a 4-0 victory over struggling Numancia at the Mestalla on Sunday.

An early goal from David Villa put the hosts firmly in control and, though the Soria-based outfit held back the floodgates for more than an hour, late strikes from Juan Mata, Vicente and a second for Villa applied the gloss to an easy afternoon's work for Unai Emery's men.

Numancia came into the game without a win in five but they started positively by winning a corner inside the opening minute and creating the game's first chance.

Txomin Nagore met Jose Barkero's centre on the half-volley and the ball would have hit the back of the net had Raul Albiol not managed to block it.

However, that was as good as it got for the visitors because within four minutes the hosts were ahead and cruising.

Villa, fresh from scoring a last-gasp midweek winner for Spain in Belgium, tried his luck with a ferocious shot from distance.

The ball ricocheted off a defender and into the face of Fernando Morientes, rolling kindly back into Villa's path and he effortlessly slotted home from 12 yards.

Morientes was left grounded while the rest of his colleagues celebrated but there was no harm done and he was able to continue moments after play had restarted.

For Valencia, it was a lucky break that allowed them to relax and enjoy their football as they spent the remainder of the first half creating numerous half-chances without ever really getting out of second gear.

Portugal full-back Miguel was particularly keen to get his name on the scoresheet, bursting into the box on three occasions but firing high and wide each time.

It should have been 2-0 midway through the half when Villa sprung the offside trap and fired home following some neat build-up play from Joaquin and Mata but the linesman raised his flag, much to the annoyance of the striker who it seemed had timed his run to perfection.

For half-an-hour either side of the break, the visitors did give Brito Renan plenty to do in the Los Che goal but the Brazilian keeper was never really called upon to make anything other than routine saves.

If nerves were beginning to creep into Valencia's game while the teams were still only separated by one goal, they were dispelled on 72 minutes when Mata prodded home a gift from Cesar Palacios.

A slide-rule pass from Villa seemed harmless enough but the defender's desperate lunge merely directed the ball into the Mata's path and he made no mistake with an instant finish beyond the despairing Juan Pablo.

The visitors lost all of their resolve from that moment and they were soon made to pay as Vicente smashed home a third at the back post on 83 minutes.

Villa then completed the scoring in the dying moments by hooking home a through ball from Manuel Fernandes with Juan Pablo stranded off his line.

Valencia clear at the top as Villa shines

MADRID, Oct 19 (Reuters) - David Villa made it eight goals from seven games with a brace in Valencia's 4-0 hammering of promoted Numancia, that put them clear at the top of the Primera Liga on Sunday.

The Spain striker, who has also bagged five for the European champions in World Cup qualifying, netted after only five minutes at the Mestalla.

He then helped set up the second for Juan Mata midway through the second half, and after substitute Vicente had made it 3-0, Villa stole a fourth at the end.

Unai Emery's side stretched their unbeaten start to seven and they lead the standings with 19 points, two ahead of local rivals Villarreal, who were held to a 0-0 draw at Espanyol on Saturday.

Champions Real Madrid are third with 16 points after a last-gasp penalty earned them a 2-1 away win in the city derby against Atletico Madrid, also on Saturday.

Later on Sunday, Barcelona were playing away to Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla were at Almeria.

Real Betis hauled themselves off the foot of the standings and eased the pressure on coach Paco Chaparro with their first victory of the season, beating Real Mallorca 3-0 at home.

Promoted Sporting Gijon spoiled Jose Antonio Camacho's debut as new coach of struggling Osasuna, sending the visiting Navarrans to a 2-1 defeat.

Real Madrid eye Old Trafford star Tevez

Real Madrid are planning a double swoop on Manchester United's strike force, having set their sights on Old Trafford frontman Carlos Tevez, as well as Cristiano Ronaldo, claims The Daily Mirror.

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Carlos Tevez: Two-year loan deal will end at close of 2008-9 season.

The Spanish giants' Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain says Tevez is a target for the Primera Liga side, with Real hoping to take advantage of United's failure to thrash out a deal with Tevez. The striker is still on loan to United, and the Manchester club have yet to agree a new contract with the forward and advisors MSI.

"I hope Carlos comes. He's a great player and, if he comes, he will be welcomed," said Higuain this week.

Tevez, meanwhile, claims he is happy in the Premier League. "I love playing in the Premier League and I am very happy at Manchester United," he said. But with United reportedly weighing up a move for 18-year-old, £20m-rated Gremio wonderkid Douglas Costa, it is possible United may be unwilling to fund a £30m permanent move for the former Boca Juniors player, who scored 19 times for the Red Devils last season.

The Spanish giants' interest in Ronaldo continues, and it is widely anticipated they will resume their dogged pursuit of the Portuguese star next summer. Last weekend saw coach Bernd Schuster say he expected to land Ronaldo for the 2009/10 season.

Sneijder wary of Atletico title challenge

Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder believes city rivals Atletico could mount a genuine title challenge to his side and Barcelona this season.

Atletico have not claimed any major silverware since winning the Primera Liga and Copa del Rey double in 1996, but they have shown gradual improvement in the last four years with league finishes of 11th, 10th, seventh and then fourth last season.

Despite that, the Rojiblancos have still provided little competition to Real Madrid in recent times, finishing a combined total of 37 points adrift over the last two campaigns as their rivals recorded back-to-back titles.

Sneijder believes it could be a different story this season though, with Atletico starting the campaign in impressive form after strengthening well over the summer.

When asked if he thought Barca would be their biggest rivals for the title, Sneijder told AS: "Yes, but we also need to be careful about Atletico Madrid. They have a very strong team.

"I saw them in the game against PSV Eindhoven, they won 3-0 (in Holland) and it's not easy to do that there. It seems as though it was easy, but it's not.

"Atletico have a very strong team to win the league."

As for their rivals from the Nou Camp, Sneijder added: "Barcelona have many quality players, but they are still not a team. I've seen two of their games.

"Although it's true that at the end Barcelona and Madrid will be fighting for the title."

Sneijder has missed the start of the season due to injury and when he returns to action, which is set to be the October 5 match against Espanyol, he will rejoin a Madrid team without the mercurial skills of Robinho.

The Brazilian left the Spanish giants in ignominious fashion earlier this month to join Premier League club Manchester City.

Sneijder believes it is right that an unsettled player should be able to move on, but feels Robinho was wrong to say he would rather be a travelling salesman than continue playing with Madrid.

"When a player has decided to leave it's best that he is allowed to leave. It's good for the club, for us and for him. Robinho is a very good player," said Sneijder.

"He wanted to go, although in my opinion he should never have talked about Madrid like that. I don't like it that he talks about the best club in the world this way."

Valencia 1-0 Osasuna

Valencia moved into a four-way tie for top spot in the Primera Liga after edging out Osasuna 1-0 thanks to Juan Manuel Mata's late volley.

In a game of few clear-cut chances, Unai Emery's men were lacklustre throughout but their persistence paid off when the former Real Madrid winger pounced from eight yards to guide home an excellent lofted ball from David Villa.

Osasuna will feel hard done by as they appeared to have done enough to take a point, despite losing full-back Cesar Azpilicueta to two yellow cards in quick succession early in the second half.

However, their time-wasting antics ensured they were awarded little sympathy by the relieved Mestalla faithful.

In a disappointing first half, Valencia were tentative and showed glimpses of the fragile confidence that plagued them for much of last season.

So it was no great surprise when the game's first real chance fell to the visitors on eight minutes.

Jaroslav Plasil sprang the offside trap to race onto Javier Portillo's exquisite reverse pass and cut the ball back to Hector Font, but the forward could only blaze over when he surely would have scored had he kept the ball down.

However, the hosts did threaten to spring into life on a few occasions without ever delivering the final punch.

Joaquin and Manuel Fernandes worked some space from a corner to find Miguel alone on the edge of the 18-yard box but the full-back suffered a rush of blood and wasted the opportunity with a scuffed shot.

Mata tried his luck from 25 yards on the half-hour mark, his well-struck effort forcing Ricardo to dash across his goalmouth and he will have been relieved to see the ball drift wide of his left-hand upright.

Then Villa drilled a left-footed shot across the face of goal on 42 minutes with Joaquin unable to connect with an outstretched boot at the far post.

A minute later, Mata worked the visiting keeper with a left-footed strike from the edge of the 18-yard box.

In the second period, even half-chances were few and far between following the dismissal of Azpilicueta.

The full-back was given his marching orders for two fouls on Mata in the space of 10 minutes, the second for denying his opponent the opportunity to race into the box for a loose ball when both players were grounded in the corner.

From that point, the play became even more disjointed as the visitors played the clock as best they could, drawing cheap free-kicks out of the Valencia defenders and generally wasting time.

Los Che's chance to win the game appeared to have disappeared with four minutes remaining when Mata hit the base of the post with a fine strike from 15 yards, the ball bouncing back into the danger area but evading a trio of white shirts.

However, the Mestalla crowd didn't have too long to dwell on their apparent misfortune, Mata popping up less than 60 seconds later, latching on to Villa's pass and finishing with aplomb to secure the points.

Racing Santander 0-2 Real Madrid

Second-half goals from Ruben De La Red and Ruud van Nistelrooy gave Real Madrid a 2-0 victory at Racing Santander on Sunday and saw Bernd Schuster's side move to within a point of the Primera Liga leaders.

Following an indifferent first-half performance, De La Red put Madrid into the lead eight minutes after the restart and Van Nistelrooy netted his side's second with 17 minutes remaining to ensure a comfortable win for the champions.

Madrid came into the game under pressure following an indifferent start to the campaign.

Schuster's side lost at Deportivo La Coruna on the opening weekend of the season and were far from convincing in a 4-3 win at home to promoted side Numancia last Saturday.

A 2-0 home success against Belorussian minnows BATE Barisov in the Champions League on Wednesday also failed to silence the critics, but Madrid looked better here.

Gonzalo Higuain almost set up Raul after 10 minutes, but Racing cleared before the Real captain could get a shot in.

And De La Red - a surprise inclusion on the left of midfield - forced Tono into a fine save with a fierce low drive nine minutes later.

The Spain midfielder also saw a long-range effort deflected behind after 32 minutes.

But Madrid switched off at the back as half-time approached and needed a pair of heroic saves from keeper Iker Casillas to deny Jonathan Pereira.

Guti was forced off with an injury just before the break and was replaced by summer signing Rafael van der Vaart.

But it was De La Red who made the breakthrough eight minutes after the interval.

Higuain charged forward on a quick counter-attack and released the former Getafe loanee, who swept the ball home from close-range to give the visitors an important lead.

But Schuster's side struggled to build on that advantage as Racing looked for a way back into the game.

And Mohamed Tchite almost provided a lifeline for the northerners after 69 minutes, but was just off target with his header.

Four minutes later, though, the match was effectively over as a contest as Van Nistelrooy bagged his side's second after evading a couple of challenges and slotting home just inside the post.

It was a typically clinical finish from the Dutchman and gave Madrid an important cushion for the remainder of the match.

Their advantage came under threat after 77 minutes but Tchite's header was cleared off the line by Van der Vaart.

De La Red fired over four minutes from time and Gonzalo Colsa was off target with a free-kick at the other end as the game finished with a flourish.

The points went to Madrid, who moved up to sixth place, where they sit just one point below joint leaders Valencia, Almeria, Villarreal and Espanyol.

Racing, meanwhile, sit just above the drop zone with two points from their three matches.

Barcelona hammer Sporting for first win

MADRID, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Barcelona earned their first Primera Liga win of the season with a 6-1 rout away to promoted Sporting Gijon on Sunday.

The pressure had been on new coach Pep Guardiola after his side only managed one goal and a point from their opening two games.

A brace from Lionel Messi and one apiece from Xavi, Samuel Eto'o, Jorge into his own net, and Andres Iniesta showed the side are starting to gel.

The win moved Barca into ninth with four points from three games, three behind early pacesetters Valencia, Almeria, Villarreal and Espanyol.

Atletico Madrid are a point back in fifth just ahead of city rivals Real Madrid.

Barca started at a hectic pace against Sporting showing the kind of bite that had been missing from their play the last two seasons.

Iniesta crossed for Xavi to net first with a diving header and Cameroon's Eto'o headed in at a corner in the 33rd. At another corner after the break home defender Jorge headed past his own keeper.

Sporting scored almost immediately through Francisco Maldonado, but lost defender Gerard Autet to a red card soon after, and were chasing shadows for the rest of the game.

Barca crafted wonderful goals for Iniesta and two for Messi in the closing stages.

Earlier, a late goal from Juan Mata gave Valencia a 1-0 home win over 10-man Osasuna that put the top.

The in-form 20-year-old volleyed home David Villa's deep cross just as it seemed the visitors might survive the sending off of Cesar Azpilicueta earlier in the second half.

Almeria beat promoted Malaga 1-0 at home to go second, ahead of Villarreal who came from behind to beat promoted Numancia 2-1 away with well-worked second-half goals from Santi Cazorla and Joseba Llorente.

Numancia, who beat Barca 1-0 and lost 4-3 to Real at the Bernabeu last weekend, made life tough for the visitors though Gorka Brit's header just before the break was scored from an offside position at a freekick.

Espanyol are fourth after drawing 1-1 at home with Getafe on Saturday.

Champions Real demonstrated maximum efficiency in front of goal to see off a well-organised Racing.

Real lost their most effective passer of the ball Guti to an injury just before the break at the Sardinero, which did not bode well for their chances in a game with very little space.

But the visitors broke away to score in the 54th minute when Argentine Gonzalo Higuain burst out of his own half to set up Spain midfielder De la Red for the opener.

Dutch striker Van Nistelrooy surprised Tono at his near post in the 74th in another swift attack, and Real's defence, who have been under the spotlight in recent games, held firm under constant late pressure.

Atletico rack up 4-0 win as Espanyol stay top

MADRID, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid beat Recreativo Huelva 4-0 in the Primera Liga on Saturday having been bouyed by their midweek Champions League win over PSV Eindhoven.

Atletico thrashed PSV 3-0 on Tuesday and were leading after just eight minutes against Recre. Argentina striker Sergio Aguero rose unmarked to head home from a freekick, for his fourth goal in three matches over the last eight days.

Espanyol remained top despite being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Getafe. Sergio Sanchez grabbed a point for the Barcelona side just before the hour mark after Manu had put the visitors ahead two minutes into the second half.

The draw represents the first points Espanyol have dropped this season, but their haul of seven points from three games sees them top the pile overnight Saturday - a point clear of Atletico Madrid.

Atletico were guilty of easing off but Portugal midfielder Maniche doubled their advantage just after the break with a powerful drive from outside the area.

Miguel de las Cuevas set up the third for Florent Sinama Pongolle 12 minutes from time and the French striker bagged his second against his former club on a breakaway at the end.

It was Atletico's third 4-0 win in a row at the Calderon having chalked up the same score against Schalke 04 and Malaga.

Unbeaten Getafe had the better of the first period in Barcelona and took the lead when striker Manu del Moral scored from the penalty spot just after the break.

The goal brought the game to life and, with tackles flying in thick and fast, Espanyol levelled at a freekick soon after.

Defender Sergio Sanchez scrambled a loose ball over the line and both sides had chances to win in a breathless second half.

Espanyol are top with seven points from three games, one ahead of Atletico and two in front of third-placed Getafe.

The bulk of the weekend Primera Liga action takes place on Sunday, including Real Madrid's visit to Racing Santander, Barcelona's clash at Sporting Gijon and the derby match between Real Betis and Sevilla.