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On Sunday, the remaining 14 matches of the Spanish championship were played. After them, the clubs "Barcelona" and Pamplona's "Osasuna" continue to lead after securing victories. On Sunday, victories were also achieved by the clubs "Valencia", "Zaragoza", "Mallorca" and "Deportivo", while the match between "Racing Santander" and "Real Sociedad" ended in a draw.
In a convincing victory in the central match of the round, the defending champions "Barcelona" footballers secured the victory, defeating "Villarreal" 2-0 away from home in a high-profile match. The visitors, who dominated the entire match, broke through in the middle of the first half: Thiago Motta earned a penalty kick near the penalty area, which Ronaldinho skillfully converted despite the "Villarreal" goalkeeper saving the shot, the rebound from Juano Manuel Pena ended up in the goal.
In the middle of the second half, Portuguese Deco doubled the score with a long-range shot, scoring a goal past the helpless Sebastian Viera. Although Mexican Rafael Marquez received a second yellow card towards the end of the match, it did not help the hosts secure at least a point in this match.
Pamplona's "Osasuna", this season's surprise team, continues their winning streak, beating "Malaga" 2-1 away from home. The visitors took the lead after 23 minutes with Pierre Webo's goal. Although Nacho equalized the score in the 37th minute, Valdo restored a one-goal lead before the end of the half. In the second half, both teams failed to score, and "Osasuna" celebrated the victory.
Formidable "Valencia" secured a victory in their away match, defeating Barcelona's "Espanyol" 3-1. The visitors took the lead by exploiting the first real opportunity - Miguel Angel Angulo took advantage of the defenders' hesitancy and directed Raul Albiol's pass into the goal. Towards the end of the first half, the team's top scorer David Villa doubled the score - "Espanyol" goalkeeper Carlos Kameni saved Vicente's shot, but the first player to the ball, D.Villa, took advantage and doubled the visitors' lead.
In the second half, D.Villa played well - the Spaniard burst into the penalty area and passed to the Argentine Pablo Aimar, who secured "Valencia's" victory. Although "Espanyol" managed to soften the score a few minutes later, when Corominas scored after a pass from Ivan de la Pena, "Valencia", despite captain David Albelda receiving a red card in the 77th minute, managed to maintain a two-goal lead and celebrate a victory, which allowed them to rise to fifth place in the table.
Meanwhile, "Mallorca", climbing from the bottom of the table, crushed Vitoria's "Alaves" 3-0 away from home, who after this defeat occupy the penultimate position. Hector Cupe's players scored a goal in each half, with Victor scoring two and Italian defender Mark Iuliano adding one.
In their home match, "Cadiz" had to admit the superiority of "Zaragoza", who are lower in the table. The hosts took the lead in the 17th minute when defender Enrique sent Matias Pavoni's pass into the goal. However, the situation completely changed in three minutes of the second half - Cani and Ewerthon allowed "Zaragoza" to celebrate victory with two goals from a distance.
San Sebastian's "Real Sociedad" failed to hold on to the two-goal lead they had and had to settle for a draw against "Racing Santander". The visitors were leading until the 68th minute after goals from Alvaro Novo and Oscar de Paula, but then the score was equalized by Antonito, and at the end of the match, Mikel Alonso scored an own goal.
Deportivo La Coruna gifted a victory to "Sevilla". In the 25th minute, Diego Tristan converted a penalty kick on his second attempt, and due to disputes with the referee, Italian defender Enzo Maresca was sent off. Victor doubled the visitors' lead with a goal four minutes before the end of the first half, and the end of the match became clear in the 69th minute when "Sevilla" defender Brazilian Dani Alves received a red card. Uruguayan Sebastian Taborda could have scored a third goal, but his penalty kick from 11 meters was saved by Andres Palop. This victory allowed "Deportivo" to surpass their opponents in the table and rise to 7th place.
Meanwhile, "Deportivo" became only the third team this season to score two goals against "Sevilla" and the second team from Spain to achieve this: previously only Celta Vigo and Zenit St. Petersburg players managed to do so. Despite two missed goals, "Sevilla" remains the team that has conceded the fewest goals in La Liga this season - their opponents have only scored eight goals against them.
Top scorers: 1. Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona) - 12 goals; 2-3. Ronaldinho (Barcelona) - 9; 2-3. David Villa (Valencia) - 9; 4. Ronaldo (Real Madrid) - 8; 5. Fernando Baiano (Celta Vigo) - 7; 6-7. Nene (Alaves) - 6; 6-7. Diego Tristan (Deportivo Coruna) - 6.
Table and results from Sunday matches:
1 - 2 17` [1 - 0] Enrique 69` [1 - 1] Cani 70` [1 - 2] Ewerthon
Barcelona 1 - 3 15` [0 - 1] Miguel Angel Angulo 43` [0 - 2] David Villa 61` [0 - 3] Pablo Aimar 63` [1 - 3] Corominas
77` David Albelda sent off ("Valencia")
Vitoria 0 - 3 45+2` [0 - 1] Victor 53` [0 - 2] Victor 66` [0 - 3] Mark Iuliano
2 - 2 San Sebastian 21` [0 - 1] Alvaro Novo 52` [0 - 2] Oscar de Paula 68` [1 - 2] Antonito 88` [2 - 2] Mikel Alonso (own goal)
1 - 2 Pamplona 23` [0 - 1] Pierre Webo 37` [1 - 1] Nacho 41` [1 - 2] Valdo
0 - 2 24` [0 - 1] Jose Manuel Pena (own goal) 63` [0 - 2] Deco
88` Rafael Marquez sent off ("Barcelona")
0 - 2 La Coruna 25` [0 - 1] Diego Tristan (penalty) 41` [0 - 2] Victor
26` Enzo Maresca sent off ("Sevilla") 69` Dani Alves sent off ("Sevilla")
