The capital club beat Osasuna 2-0 at the Bernabeu, just hours after Sevilla were held to a goalless draw at home to Racing Santander.

Defending champions Barca were beaten 1-0 at Real Zaragoza on Saturday with Diego Milito netting the only goal.

Having seen what had gone before, Madrid were determined to see off the Pamplona-based visitors.

Raul stabbed them ahead from close range after 23 minutes and Robinho secured all three points 10 minutes from time.

Sevilla were made to rue a host of missed opportunities as visiting goalkeeper Antonio Tono ensured a hard-earned point for his side.

Zaragoza's defeat of Barca moved them up to fourth, level on points with Valencia, who were beaten 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Atletico Madrid remain in contention for a place in next season's Champions League following a 1-0 win at Villarreal - Fabiano Eller scoring the only goal 11 minutes before half-time.

Fernando Torres sparkled for the visitors but could not get on the scoresheet and even saw a late penalty saved by home keeper Sebastian Viera.

Former Arsenal and France midfielder Robert Pires was sent off for a foul on Gabi Fernandez which led to the spot-kick.

Recreativo Huelva's bid to play European football next season remained on track with a 4-2 defeat of Celta Vigo.

Jesus Vazquez's first-half penalty for Recre had been cancelled out by Celta's Anderson Nene, also from the spot, as the game went into the last few minutes.

Laurentiu Rosu scored twice in two minutes for Recre only for Nene to grab his second to make the score 3-2, but there was still time for substitute Jose Cheli to strike one last blow for the winners and leave Vigo in the bottom three.

The bottom two, Real Sociedad and Gimnastic Tarragona, also lost.

Gimnastic, who prop up the rest, succumbed to a Iglesias Iago free-kick at Deportivo La Coruna while Ferran Coro's solitary strike proved enough for Espanyol to see off Sociedad.

Levante moved two points clear of the drop zone thanks to a 1-1 home draw against Real Betis.

Real Mallorca beating Getafe 2-0 thanks to goals from Jose Carlos Nunes and Oscar Trejo.