First division, day 8

Valencia moved up to the Champions League spots with a 1-2 victory against Real Madrid, their first win in the Bernabeu stadium in six years. Missing the injured Ronaldo and Baptista, Madrid still had the chance to take the lead early on when referee Daudén Ibáñez awarded them a penalty for a foul on Sergio Ramos by Moretti. But Zidane fired his kick against the post, and a few minutes later Baraja put the visitors in front with a well taken free kick. Raúl picked up a long Roberto Carlos throw-in to equalise ten minutes before the break, but just three minutes later Valencia were ahead again with a David Villa penalty after the ball hit Ramos on the arm in the area. Both sides had chances in the second half, but the hosts gave up the fight after they were left with nine men following red cards for Gravesen and then Beckham.

The new leaders are once again Getafe, who played out of their skins to beat Zaragoza 5-2. Bernd Schuster's side were already four up before half time, with Paunovic opening the scoring early on and Güiza adding a penalty after he himself was fouled by Milito. Güiza got his second of the evening just a couple of minutes later, and Pulido headed the fourth from Paunovic's free kick later in the first half. The visitors came back after the break, with Movilla and Toledo getting two goals back. But substitute Redondo put the result beyond doubt with a fifth goal near the end.

Celta also move above Real Madrid to second place after a late 1-0 win over Espanyol. The Catalans started well after their midweek cup run, but the sending off of Pochettino for a second bookable offence shortly before half time took the wind out of their sails. Kameni kept them in it though until eight minutes from the end, when David Silva finally beat the keeper after he had stopped another effort from Jorge. Espanyol ended the day just point above the relegation zone.

Real Sociedad are up to seventh spot after a 2-0 win over Deportivo. The Basque side were still smarting from their cup defeat midweek, and they took the lead three minutes in to the second half when Kovacevic headed Uranga's cross past Molina. Jauregi headed a second from Nihat's corner a few minutes later to give his side their second league win in a row.

Villarreal's bad start to the season seems to be behind them, and they are now eighth after a 3-0 win over struggling Mallorca. All the goals came in the first half, with Riquelme opening the scoring directly from a corner and then setting up José Marí for him to head the second over Prats. Diego Forlán got the third on the stroke of half time to leave Héctor Cúper's side firmly anchored to the bottom of the table.

Athletic Bilbao are only just above Mallorca though, and they fell to a 1-0 defeat against a Cádiz side who had previously not won at home this season. The only goal came in the twelfth minute when Enrique picked up a cross from Sesma, but it could have been a lot more had the Andalusians not wasted a hatful of chances. The Basque side have not won now since the opening day of the season, their worst start in 34 years.

Málaga bounced back after three defeats in a row to thrash an unrecognisable Betis 5-0. Salva scored twice in the first half hour, and Fernando Sanz made it three with a header shortly after the restart. And Salva's strike partner Pablo Couñago helped himself to two more later on to take his side up into the top half of the table. Betis have now let in nine goals in four days following their Champions League defeat at Chelsea.

Atlético Madrid moved away from the danger zone with a 0-1 win at Racing Santander in the next to last game on Sunday evening. The first eight matches of the weekend had all produced home wins, but Maxi broke the trend with a strike shortly before half time. The result leaves the Cantabrians just two points above the relegation zone. (23.10.05)

Barcelona moved up to the top four after a 3-0 win against joint leaders Osasuna. Frank Rijkaard gave Messi a first start, and the young Argentine headed against the bar in the first half. But it was not until the first minute after the interval that they took the lead, Eto'o finding himself with time and space to head Ronaldinho's corner past Ricardo. Five minutes later the Camerooni striker got his second of the night after the keeper could only push Sylvinho's cross into his path, and substitute Giuly made it three near the end after latching on to a loose ball to score. The victory came with a price though, Belletti and Deco both going off injured in the first half.

Sevilla celebrated their first match at the Sánchez Pizjuán since completing 100th anniversary with a 2-0 win over Alavés. Adriano put the Andalusians ahead midway through the first half after picking up a pass from Maresca, and Maresca himself made it two from the penalty spot in the second half after Saviola had been fouled by Costanzo. Nené came close to pulling a goal back though when he hit the bar with a free kick late on. (22.10.05)