Robert Pires and Marcos Garcia grabbed the goals for the mid-table hosts against a Barca side which has now won just one of their last nine away games in the Primera Liga.

Frank Rijkaard's men still top the table but their lead has been cut to a solitary point following Sevilla's 4-1 thrashing of struggling Athletic Bilbao.

The reigning UEFA Cup champions stormed to victory on the back of second-half goals from Alexander Kerzhakov, Antonio Puerta, Ernesto Chevanton and Luis Fabiano, who also missed an eighth-minute penalty.

Fran Yeste netted late on for Athletic, who are just two points above the drop zone.

Valencia's win relegated Real Madrid back to third in the standings.

Fabio Capello's men had held second spot following their 2-1 win against Valencia on Saturday night - Ruud van Nistelrooy and Sergio Ramos scoring either side of a Fernando Morientes goal.

Real Zaragoza's bid to qualify for next season's Champions League gathered pace thanks to a 2-0 win against Celta Vigo.

Brazilian striker Ewerthon scored both goals to sink Hristo Stoichkov's Celta side, who are now level on points with third-bottom Levante, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Getafe.

Mustapha Riga opened the scoring in the fifth minute but David Belenguer levelled for the visitors 12 minutes into the second half.

Real Sociedad's 2-0 win against Atletico Madrid on Saturday night has given them hope of avoiding the drop - they are just three points adrift of safety - but time is running out for rock-bottom Gimnastic.

The Catalan side are now six points shy of the fourth-bottom spot after a 1-0 defeat at Real Mallorca - Victor grabbing the only goal after 21 minutes.

Alberto Lopo grabbed a last-minute winner as Deportivo La Coruna beat Osasuna 1-0 while there was also late drama in Barcelona as Espanyol fought out a 2-2 draw with Real Betis.

The visitors finished the game with eight men as goalkeeper Pedro Contreras, midfielder Miguel Angel and Brazilian striker Edu were all sent off in the space of a minute as the match ended in controversial fashion.

Espanyol, who played the whole second half with 10 men after Walter Pandiani saw red just before the break, were awarded a dubious late penalty after Contreras was adjudged to have brought down Raul Tamudo.

The Betis keeper was sent off for the foul and was quickly followed down the tunnel by Contreras and Edu, after referee Manuel Angel Perez Lima objected to their furious protests.

Tamudo netted from the spot to deny a Betis side which had led 2-1 after Edu's double had wiped out Espanyol's early advantage, handed to them by Albert Riera.

Sunday's other game saw Recreativo Huelva beat Racing Santander 4-2.