First division, day 9

Osasuna hold on to top spot for another week after a 2-0 win over Espanyol, their sixth victory at the Sadar stadium in a row. Visiting keeper Kameni gave them a hand though with two gifts, the first when he carried a long cross by David López over his own goal line midway through the first half. And twenty minutes from the end the Camerooni keeper completely missed a clearance, allowing Webó to collect the ball and set up Muñoz for the easiest of second goals. The Catalans drop to next to bottom in the table, and manager Lotina is walking a tightrope.

Barcelona moved up to second in the table with a comfortable 5-0 win over Real Sociedad, who were in sixth position at the start of the day. Ronaldinho set up Van Bommel for the opening goal, and the Dutch midfielder repaid the complement later in the first half for Ronaldinho to get a second before half time. "El Gaucho" got his second of the night with a free kick after the restart, and Puyol headed his first goal in almost four years soon afterwards before substitute Larsson got on the end of Sylvinho's cross to head the fifth past a desolate Riesgo.

Getafe drop to fourth after a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Deportivo, who themselves are only a point now behind their opponents. Spanish coach Luis Aragonés was in the crowd, reportedly to watch Munitis and Riki, but it was Diego Tristán who headed home the only goal of the match from Capdevila's long cross before the break. Riki was unlucky not to win a penalty though, and Pachón crashed a shot against the bar in the dying minutes as Schuster's side fought to the end.

No less than seven sides are separated by a point though in the battle for the fourth Champions League spot. Villarreal are currently lying sixth after a last gasp 1-1 draw at Atlético Madrid, Diego Forlán scoring the equaliser in the fourth minute of injury time. Zahinos had put the locals ahead in the fifth minute with a shot which deflected in off Arruabarrena, and a few minutes later the visitors were left with ten men when Gonzalo was sent off. But numbers were evened up when Luccin got his marching orders, and Riquelme found Forlán for him to save the day.

Sevilla are just behind Villarreal after they too drew 1-1 at Mallorca. The home side took the lead on the half hour mark when youth international Víctor got on the end of Tuni's cross to beat Notario, but just a minute later they were left with ten men when Fernando Navarro was sent off, and a couple of minutes after that Kepa levelled the scores following a free kick. And the visitors could have won it had a Kanouté strike not been ruled out for a non existent offside after the interval.

Valencia missed out on a chance to close up on the leaders after they were held to a 1-1 draw by ten man Racing Santander in the Mestalla stadium. Albelda volleyed home a spectacular first goal from outside of the area with only twelve minutes on the clock, but a good team move ended with Aganzo getting the equaliser later in the first half. The Cantabrians were left with ten men when Felipe Melo was sent off for insulting a linesman after the break, but a good performance by keeper Dudu Aouate enabled them to go home with a point.

In fact it was a weekend for draws, and Zaragoza recorded their seventh in ten games after a 1-1 scoreline against Málaga. Ewerthon put Víctor Muñoz's side into the lead in the tenth minute, the referee waving away claims for a foul by Cani in the play leading up to the goal. But Edgar fired a long shot over César near to half time to square the match, and Arnau did the rest after the break to frustrate the home fans once again.

Two of the newly promoted sides Alavés and Cádiz cancelled each other out in a 0-0 draw, a result which left the home side without a win at their Mendizorroza stadium all season. Local keeper Costanzo had to be at his best as the visitors dominated the first half, but only a couple of first class saves by Armando kept Aloisi for winning it for the locals after the restart. (30.10.05)

A depleted Real Madrid side moved back to the top of the table pending Sunday's games after beating Betis 0-2. Robinho opened the scoring in the first half after Guti and Raúl combined, and although Edu hit the post after the restart, substitute Mejía headed a second ten minutes from the end to send Serra Ferrer's team down into the lower reaches of the table.

Athletic Bilbao stay in bottom spot though after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Celta, a result which could signal the end for local manager Mendilibar. Gurpegui put the Basque side ahead in the first half, but Angel equalised after the break following good work by David Silva to keep the Galicians in the top four (29.10.05)