Real Mallorca wins again

Real Mallorca wins again

Real Mallorca maintained their perfect home record in La Liga with an impressive 3-1 victory over Getafe on Sunday.

The Balearic side began the weekend in sixth spot after impressive early-season form and were looking to bounce back from a 4-1 away defeat to Sporting Gijon before the international break.

And Julio Alvarez's first-half strike plus a brace by Basque livewire Aritz Aduriz ensured a comfortable win over Getafe, who had also made a decent start to the campaign before this limp loss. Juan Albin managed a late consolation.

Ivan Alonso struck a brace to give Espanyol a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tenerife and make light of the controversial absence of star striker Raul Tamudo.

Tamudo is back from injury but was left out of the squad following an unseemly contract wrangle with the Catalan club this week.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino admitted that the striker - Espanyol's all-time top goalscorer - may never play for the club again and opted to cut the player from his matchday squad to avoid unrest.

That meant a start up front for Alonso and the Uruguayan responded by hitting both goals - one in each half - either side of Alejandro Alfaro's leveller.

Racing Santander produced a late fightback at La Romareda to come from two goals down to steal an unlikely point from a 2-2 draw against Zaragoza.

Zaragoza looked to be cruising after they went two up in the first half through Carlos Pavon and Javier Arizmendi.

And that lead still looked in little danger with 10 minutes left on the clock.

But two goals in the space of four minutes, courtesy of Mohamed Tchite and Oscar Serrano, knocked the stuffing out of the home side and spoilt what had looked to be a routine win for the hosts.

And to make matters worse for the home side, Zaragoza had defender Leonardo Ponzio sent off for an elbow deep into added time.

Xerez won the basement battle against Villarreal 2-1 to finally register their first victory of the season.

Last season's Segunda Division champions have looked hopelessly out of their depth in the first few weeks of the new season but this win moves them off the bottom with Villarreal replacing them at the foot.

It started well for the visiting side with Robert Pires putting them ahead in the 18th minute. Xerez hit back through Mario Bermejo just before half-time with Antonito grabbing the winner with 10 minutes to go.

Villarreal's miserable afternoon was capped by the late dismissal of defender Gonzalo Rodriguez.

Almeria claimed a deserved first away win of the season to build on their respectable single-goal loss at Barcelona and add to Malaga's early-season woes with a 2-1 victory.

Two goals in a minute from Domingo Cismo and Fernando Soriano were ultimately enough to secure victory for the visitors, who had the opportunities to make the result much more comfortable.

Edinho's second-half strike gave the home side hope, but they failed to create a clear chance for an equaliser and were ultimately condemned to a fifth defeat in seven matches.

On Saturday, Barcelona saw their Primera Liga lead cut to a solitary point by Real Madrid as they were held to a goalless draw by Valencia at the Mestalla - and they will be relieved to have escaped with that result.

Pablo Hernandez went close from his own half and strike partner Juan Mata missed a host of chances, while David Silva was denied by Victor Valdes from the best opportunity of the match.

Rodriguez Pedrito and Yaya Toure threatened for Barca, but they will be happy to take a share of the spoils and remain a point ahead of arch-rivals Madrid, who beat Real Valladolid 4-2.

Raul had been presented with a trophy by Madrid president Florentino Perez just prior to kick-off for breaking Manuel Sanchis' club record of official appearances for the Spanish giants, and he marked the occasion with two more goals.

The veteran forward, who is also Madrid's all-time leading goalscorer, struck twice in the opening 18 minutes and Marcelo (45) and Gonzalo Higuain (79) were also on the scoresheet as Manuel Pellegrini's side bounced back from their 2-1 defeat at Sevilla to make it six wins in seven Primera Division outings.

Deportivo La Coruna moved level on points with Sevilla following a surprise 1-0 win over Manolo Jimenez's side.

The Andalusians had won five matches in a row since losing at Valencia on the opening day and many consider them to be a good outside bet for the title following their impressive 2-1 win over Real Madrid prior to the international break.

But they had no answers against an impressive Deportivo side that claimed the points at Riazor thanks to a stunning first-half strike from Juan Rodriguez.