Sevilla up to third as Valencia finally win

Valencia's Miguel Angel Mista celebrates his goal against Betis in a Spanish League match at Mestalla stadium of Valencia. Valencia won 2-1.

Sevilla moved up to third place despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Racing Santander while reigning Spanish champions Valencia got their first win in seven games with a 2-1 victory over Real Betis.

Barcelona extended their lead at the top to eight points despite being held to a 1-1 draw at bottom club Numancia on Saturday as the Catalan club moved on to 58 points from 25 games.

Second-placed Real Madrid failed to capitalise as they crashed 2-0 at Deportivo La Coruna, with the hosts getting both their goals in the first 13 minutes.

Brazilian international striker Julio Baptista opened the scoring for Sevilla after 13 minutes on Sunday, finding the net after a neat defence-splitting pass from his compatriot Adriano.

David Aganzo then equalised for Racing two minutes before half time, tapping the ball in at the near post from a corner.

Dario Silva gave Sevilla hope that they would clinch the points 13 minutes from time but Mario Regueiro's header, also from a corner, grabbed Racing a share of the points six minutes from the whistle.

"I have to pay tribute to Racing, they came here intent to play, unlike some other clubs who havce left here with a point," said Sevilla coach Joaquin Caparros.

"We didn't play well but football is like that sometimes and perhaps we got more than we deserved."

Despite the draw, Sevilla still remain on course to qualify for the Champions League, which will be the first time since 1957 that they have been in Europe's top club competition.

Valencia got off to a winning start under their new manager Antonio Lopez, appointed Friday after Claudio Ranieri had been sacked, to move back up to fourth after beating fellow Champions League candidates Real Betis.

Sevilla's Brazilian Julio Cesar Baptista (L) vies with Racing Santander's Juan Manuel Delgado (R) in a Spanish League football match in Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Sevilla. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Betis drew first blood with their Brazilian midfielder Assuncao scoring from a 25-yard free kick after 13 minutes, his sixth goal in as many games.

However, Valencia didn't let their heads drop like so often in the recent past.

Spanish international Ruben Baraja kept his high and equalised with a header after 28 minutes.

Mista Ferrer then got Valencia's winner 18 minutes from time to end Betis's six-game unbeaten streak qnd push them down to fifth.

Villarreal's ambitions of European football next season were dented when they lost 1-0 at Real Zaragoza.

Spanish international David Villa got Zaragoza's goal after 38 minutes, snapping up a loose ball after Villarreal keeper Jose Manuel Reina failed to hold onto a header from Luciano Galletti.

Malaga notched up a club record 6-1 away win at Osasuna, who are still without a win after eight games in 2005.

The triumph left Malaga coach Antonio Tapia as stunned as his opposite number Javier Aguirre.

"You don't see this sort of outcome very often in a league like this. This is a team with a mixture of virtues and limitations and so I think I'd be better be rather humble over the result," said Tapia, well aware that Malaga lost 5-1 at home themselves only a few weeks ago.

Miguel Angel Lozano started the Malaga deluge with a stunning long range shot after just three minutes.

He then provided the service for both Duda and Baiano to get the goals that put Malaga three up by the break and well on the road to their third successive win.

Baiano then got another just six minutes after the restart.

Osasuna got on the scoresheet thanks to their Australian striker John Aloisi, but the crushing defeat was completed by late goals from Juan Rodriguez and Paulo Wanchope.

"I've got little explanation for what went on out there," said the dismayed Aguirre.

"It was a night for the dogs. In the first half we played well, they had just three chances and scored on all three. After that, the only thing I can say is that we defended very, very badly."

Spanish football league standings after Sunday's matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):