Madrid - Valencia stayed top of the Spanish league thanks to a difficult 1-1 draw away to Recreativo Huelva on Sunday. Valencia needed a late goal from Euro 2008 top scorer David Villa to keep their unbeaten record intact.
The draw left Villa and company with 20 points from eight games, one point more than Barcelona, who thrashed Almeria 5-0 on Saturday in a first-half exhibition.
Javier Camunas gave Huelva the lead in the 49th minute with a powerful shot which went in off the near post, after good work down the left by Javi Guerrero.
Valencia enjoyed 72 per cent possession and levelled in the 63rd minute, when Joaquin Sanchez centred from the right and Huelva keeper Asier Riesgo could only parry the header of Juan Mata, allowing Villa to turn in the rebound.
"A draw was not really a bad result for us," said Villa. "They are a good team, and caused us a lot of problems."
The surprise of the day was Sevilla's first defeat, 1-0 at home to lively Malaga. The only goal was scored in the 16th minute by Adrian Lopez, who beat Andres Palop with a low shot after being set up by Nacho Perez.
Luis Fabiano twice came close to levelling for Sevilla, who were crippled by the sending-off of Adriano.
Their first loss leaves Sevilla third with 17 points, two points behind Barcelona and level with Villarreal, who were due to play at home to Atletico Madrid later on Sunday.
In fifth place, on 16, are Real Madrid, who were hosts to Athletic Bilbao in Sunday's late game.
Their win in Seville takes Malaga up to sixth, with 13 points. Then come Getafe - 1-0 winners over Valladolid - with 12.
Mallorca and Almeria are joint eighth with 11 points. Mallorca thrashed Espanyol 3-0, with two second-half goals from Aritz Aduriz and one from Fernando Varela.
The heavy defeat in Palma leaves Espanyol 12th, level on nine points with Atletico Madrid, Deportivo Coruna and Sporting Gijon.
Gijon, who made a disastrous start, turned in the performance of the weekend to win 3-0 away to Deportivo, with goals from David Barral, Carmelo Gonzalez and Diego Castro.
Betis are seventh from bottom after Saturday's 2-0 win away to bottom side Osasuna. Then come Valladolid and Numancia, 2-1 winners over Racing Santander, on seven points.
Santander and Huelva both have six points, Bilbao have five, Osasuna just four.
