La Liga wrap: Real maintain advantage

5 Februar 2012 00:48

Real Madrid maintained their seven-point lead over Barcelona at the top of La Liga with the top two picking up wins on Saturday.

Real Madrid maintained their seven-point lead over Barcelona at the top of La Liga with the top two picking up wins on Saturday.

Sergio Ramos' header on 18 minutes was all that separated the league leaders and Getafe while Barcelona survived late pressure to defeat Real Sociedad 2-1.

Local rival Getafe started brightly at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez and almost took the lead on three minutes through Abdelaziz Barrada, but he blazed over the bar.

After Ramos' goal from Mesut Oezil's corner, Real rarely stepped out of second gear and despite creating few chances managed to end Getafe's six-game unbeaten streak.

Barcelona asserted their early dominance at Camp Nou to go ahead on nine minutes through Christian Mello, who poked home his first goal for the club after a neatly timed through ball from Lionel Messi.

It was not until the 72nd minute that the reigning champions extended their advantage.

Messi latched on to Dani Alves' clipped ball to cushion past the goalkeeper, ending the Argentine's three-game run without a goal.

Levante's hopes of catching city rivals Valencia in third place were dealt a blow with a 1-1 draw at home to struggling Racing Santander.

Arouna Kone put the hosts ahead on 23 minutes with a close-range header but Levante wasted further chances to go ahead.

Profligacy would cost them dear as Manuel Arana rescued a point for relegation-threatened Racing Santander with a fine finish into the top corner.

Athletic Bilbao conceded a late equaliser in an entertaining 3-3 draw with Espanyol, dropping points that would have seen them leapfrog Levante into fourth.

Juan Albin's ferocious shot in the 93rd minute stunned the home side who dominated the early stages and went ahead through Oscar 23 minutes in.

Romaric and Vladimir Weiss scored to put the visitors ahead before Fernando Llorente made it 2-2 in the 58th minute.

Bilbao clung to Javi Martinez's 65th minute goal that put them up 3-2 before the late drama unfolded.

Chori Castro scored the only goal, in the first half, as nine-man Real Mallorca held on to beat Real Betis 1-0.

Mallorca almost extended their lead in the second half following Castro's curled free kick but saw Ivan Ramis and Victor both sent off late in the match.

Earlier, Mario suffered the same fate for Betis, but with little time left the visitors failed to make their numerical advantage count.