Real Madrid settles for draw with Almeria

Nov 2, 2008 - 10:35 PM By PA SportsTicker

Real Madrid missed the chance to move level on points with Barcelona at the top of the Primera Liga table after conceding a late equalizer to draw 1-1 at Almeria on Sunday.

Raul's first-half header looked as if it would be enough for Bernd Schuster's side, but Pablo Piatti shocked the champions with an 82nd-minute tally to claim a deserved point.

The point leaves Madrid in third place, two points behind its Catalan rivals, which leads the table by a point from Villarreal after beating Malaga, 4-1, on Saturday.

Xavi gave Pep Guardiola's side the lead from a free kick after just five minutes, but Duda equalized for the hosts.

Lionel Messi restored Barca's advantage after 18 minutes before another Xavi strike and Dani Alves' deflected free-kick sealed the victory.

Villarreal made up for its shock mid-week thrashing in the Copa del Rey by beating strugglers Athletic Bilbao, 4-1.

Giuseppe Rossi opened the scoring in the 24th minute, but Joseba Etxeberria leveled for Bilbao just five minutes later.

However, two goals in six minutes from Robert Pires and Santi Cazorla put Villarreal in control and Cazorla added a fourth late on.

Mohamed Tchite inspired Racing Santander to a shock 4-2 victory at previously-unbeaten Valencia, who dropped to fourth.

The striker opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, but Valencia was level three minutes later when David Villa scored from the penalty spot.

Tchite restored Racing's lead four minutes into the second half only for Valencia to pull level again through Joaquin in the 70th minute.

Ten minutes later the Belgian-Burundian completed his hat trick and a David Albelda own goal in the closing stages capped a miserable night for the hosts.

On Sunday, Sevilla threw away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at lowly Real Valladolid.

Valladolid substitute Fabian Canobbio was his side's hero with a second-half brace, but it was the 34th-minute dismissal of Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano that was key to the encounter.

Sevilla was leading 2-0 through goals from Renato and Jesus Navas when Brazil international Luis Fabiano received his second yellow card for diving inside the area.

That gave Valladolid an unexpected lifeline and it duly took it, pulling a goal back just before halftime through Jonathan Sesma before Canobbio took center stage with goals in the 51st and 64th minutes.

Osasuna remained rooted to the bottom of the table after going down, 1-0, to Espanyol, Raul Tamudo with the goal.

Juan Albin struck a late equalizer to earn Getafe a 1-1 draw from its trip to Recreativo Huelva.

Third-bottom Recre had taken the lead through Javi Guerrero just after the break, but it was unable to hang on after the 62nd-minute dismissal of Iago Bouzon.

Sporting Gijon made it five wins in as many games with a 3-1 victory at home to fellow Primera Liga new boys Numancia.

Numancia took the lead through Asier Goiria's strike in the 20th minute, but Sporting equalized just after the half-hour mark through Luis Moran and Croatian striker Mate Bilic bagged a second-half brace to seal victory.

Deportivo La Coruna recorded a 3-0 win over Real Betis thanks to a second-half strike from Ivan Riki and a late Angel Lafita brace.

Betis had Sergio Garcia sent off nine minutes from time.

On Saturday, Sergio Aguero enjoyed a starring return to the Atletico Madrid ranks with both goals in a 2-0 victory over Real Mallorca.