First division - day 3

Sevilla are up to second spot with one game in hand after beating Recreativo 4-1. Kerzhakov opened the scoring early on, and Kanouté added two more either side of half time before Aitor volleyed one back. Kerzhakov missed a penalty soon afterwards, but made up for it with his second of the night a few minutes later, and the visitors ended with ten men after Edu Moya was sent off near the end.

Barcelona could only draw 0-0 with Osasuna later in the evening, their second consecutive away game without goals. With Eto'o injured and Messi carrying a knock, Giovani was given a place in the starting line up. But chances were few and far between, and it was only when 17 year old Bojan came on for his debut that things livened up.

The result left Barça in fifth spot, one behind Villarreal who beat Mallorca 0-1 earlier in the day. Nihat got the only goal with a well struck free kick near the end, although the locals felt themselves unlucky not to earn a point after Güiza got the ball in the net only for the strike to be ruled out for a non existent offside.

Murcia are proving to be one of the revelation sides in the early season, and they currently occupy sixth spot after drawing 1-1 with Atlético Madrid. Kun Agüero gave the visitors the lead in the opening minutes, but after that Leo Franco was Atlético's best man. And with ten minutes to go Gallardo finally drove home an angled shot to keep up his side's unbeaten record.

The other three games on Sunday ended with 1-0 victories, all for sides who had not won so far this season. Guardado got the only goal in the sixth minute as Deportivo beat Betis, and substitute Jonathan Soriano waited until two minutes from the end before he scored in Espanyol's win over Getafe. And Munitis was the saviour once again for Racing Santander, their victory over Levante leaving their opponents level with Getafe at the bottom of the table. (16.09.07)

Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of the table after beating Almería 3-1, the first time in sixteen years that they have won their opening three games. Saviola started things off before the break, beating Cobeño after the keeper pushed Raúl's shot against the post. The referee incorrectly ruled out a goal from Kalu Uche though and then sent off Crusat early in the second half, and Sneijder made it two with a well struck free kick soon afterwards. Uche got one back after picking up a through ball from Soriano, but Higuain ran on to Gago's headed pass to lob the keeper and wrap things up with a couple of minutes to go.

Valencia are up into the top four pending Sunday's games after a late 2-1 win over Valladolid, although it was not a great performance and the crowd whistled off coach Quique Flores at the end of the match. The visitors went ahead in the tenth minute when Cañizares dropped a cross from sesma at the feet of Kome, but Morientes equalised later in the first half after Butelle could only push out Arizmendi's shot. David Silva struck the winner somewhat fortuitously with a minute to go, his shot ballooning off the back of Pedro López past the keeper.

Athletic Bilbao and Zaragoza have yet to win this season, and both picked up their second point of the new campaign after a 1-1 draw. Susaeta gave the Basque side the lead when he bent an early free kick into the net, but Diego Milito equalised after running on to Gabi's pass to beat Iraizoz a few minutes later. (15.09.07)