Barcelona 4 - 0 Racing Santander(1-0) Iniesta, (2-0) Henry, (3-0) Marquez, (4-0) Thiago
A comfortable, if unspectacular, victory for Barcelona against a Racing Santander side that looked beaten from the start. Barca moved the ball around well in the first half, even without their midfield crafstman Xavi Hernandez, but it was the helping hand of an absent Racing defence that allowed Iniesta to slot his side infront (unbelievably his first goal since that famous strike against Chelsea last season), before two beautifully crafted free-kicks from Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez put them out of sight before half-time. The second half saw Barcelona take the foot off the accelerator, as you would expect with their Champions League tie against Stuttgart coming up this week. Youngster Thiago put the icing on the cake with a deflected goal in the dying minutes, his first in a Barca shirt. Sergio Canales didnt enjoy his first visit to the Camp Nou as a Real Madrid player, as Racing Santander offered very little in a one-sided affair. The pressure is now on Real Madrid as they prepare to host Villarreal tomorrow, with their rivals now 5 points ahead once more.
Deportivo La Coruña 2 - 1 Xerez
(1-0) 3' Guardado, (2-0) 7' Riki, (2-1) 36' Bermejo
It's a sad yet aweinspiring sight. Xerez slide closer to La Segunda with every passing weekend, but aren't they doing themselves proud. 2-0 down after only seven minutes, they could be forgiven for folding, but they simply roll their sleeves up and fight as if their lives depend on it. They may lack the quality, but if leagues were decided by guts and determination, they'd be challenging for the title. Guardado struck a penalty after only three minutes, and the impressive Riki doubled their lead four minutes later as Xerez threatened to self-destruct. But typified by the battling warrior Sidi Keita, Xerez brought themselves back in with with Mario Bermejos effort and more than played their part in a thoroughly entertaining match that flowed from end to end. It says it all that Xerez were sent from the Riazor with the sound of the Depor support singing 'Xerez es de Primera'. Heartwarming.
Mallorca 1 - 3 Sevilla
(1-0) 5' Mario Suarez, (1-1) 23' Jesus Navas, (1-2) 56' Dragutinovic, (1-3) 62' Perotti
One of the surprise success stories of the season so far ended tonight as Mallorca fell to their first home defeat of the season against Sevilla, leaving Real Madrid as the only undefeated home side in the league. Mallorca took an early lead through Mario Suarez, but from then on it was all about Jesus Navas, as he levelled the scores after a mix-up between Aourate and his defender, with the dimuntive winger running riot down Mallorcas left hand side, and even playing a part in Sevillas third when he delivered a pinpoint cross for Perottis decisive third goal. The match was marked by some pretty rigourous refereeing, which saw Alvaro Negredo (again), Ivan Ramis and Didier Zokora sent off. As Mallorca fall away from the fight for the Champions League spots, and Depor continue to blow hot and cold, it seems as if the race for third now has its very own two-horse race between Valencia and Sevilla.
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