Owen on target again as Real win local derby

Real Madrid's Michael Owen celebrates after a goal during a Liga match between Getafe and Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu stadium of Madrid.

England striker Michael Owen scored in his fourth consecutive game for Real Madrid as the Spanish giants comfortably beat their newly-promoted local rivals Getafe 2-0.

The victory moved the 29-times Spanish champions up to third spot but they are still seven points adrift of their big rivals and league leaders Barcelona, who were held to a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Barcelona have 23 points from nine games and have a six-point lead in the Spanish first division after Sevilla blew their big chance of closing the gap on the Catalans when they crashed 3-0 at Real Zaragoza earlier on Sunday.

Owen coolly side-footed Real into the lead after 28 minutes and then his striking partner Ronaldo secured the points with Real's second 12 minutes from time.

Getafe had their chances, with former Real Madrid ballboy Valentin Pachon having several good opportunities, but Real keeper Iker Casillas kept a clean sheet despite the best efforts of the Real back four to leave him exposed.

Sevilla, this year's surprise team who have not finished in the top three since 1970, remain in second place with 17 points despite their loss.

Argentine midfielder Luciano Galletti opened the scoring for Zaragoza, who move up to third, after just 12 minutes when he headed home a move started by Bruno Toledo in the midfield.

Things went from bad to worse for Sevilla after 26 minutes when Sergio Ramos brought down former Real Madrid midfielder Savio and David Villa stepped up to convert the penalty.

Zaragoza's Delio Toledo (R) vies with Sevilla's Pedro Ramos (L) during their Spanish League football match at La Romareda stadium in Zaragoza.

Villa then made sure of the points just before the hour with his sixth goal of the season to preserve Zaragoza's perfect home record.

Barcelona's city neighbours Espanyol were another team to let slip an opportunity of keeping up the pressure on the top of the table when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Villarreal.

Espanyol also look as though they will be without the services of their Spanish international striker Raul Tamudo, who tore his hamstring, for at least a month.

Deportivo La Coruna failed to get the morale boosting win they wanted ahead of Wednesday's Champions League encounter with Liverpool when they also had to settle for a 0-0 draw with Albacete.

At the other end of the table, the plight of Numancia and Real Mallorca worsened.

Bottom club Numancia went down 2-0 to visiting Real Sociedad, with the Basques taking control in the second half and getting the points thanks to goals from Mikel Labaka and Valery Karpin.

A change of coach didn't help Mallorca, who sacked Benito Floro earlier this week and replaced him with caretaker Tomas Llopart, ahead of the anticipated arrival of former Inter Milan boss Hector Cuper, who had a successful spell with them in the 90's.

The Balearic island side lost 2-1 to Racing Santander to remain without a home win to their name.

Mallorca were behind after just two minutes when Racing's Pedro Lopez connected with a long punt forward.

The hosts didn't help their own cause when they were reduced to 10 men on the hour after Fernando Nino got sent off but, against the run of play, Jorge Lopez equalised after 79 minutes.

Racing spoiled their night though when Israeli international Yossi Benayoun got the winner in injury time.