Real Madrid moved clear in second place in the Primera Liga with a 1-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna.

Raul scored the only goal of the game five minutes before the break, giving the hosts their sixth win in seven competitive games since Juande Ramos replaced Bernd Schuster as coach.

The goal was Raul's 306th for Madrid, moving him within one of club legend Alfredo di Stefano.

Madrid remain 12 points behind leaders and bitter rivals Barcelona, who beat Numancia 4-1 yesterday.

Third-placed Sevilla slipped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to 10-man Racing Santander.

Cesar Navas gave the in-form Cantabrians the lead halfway through the first half, although it looked as if the visitors would struggle when Oscar Serrano was shown a straight red card for a foul on Adriano after 32 minutes.

But Racing rallied and Nikola Zigic headed a second goal for the northerners just after the break.

Real Mallorca climbed off the bottom with a morale-boosting 3-1 win over high-flying Valencia at the Son Moix.

Jose Jurado was the star of the show, scoring twice and winning a penalty that was converted by Jose Luis Marti, as the islanders raced into a three-goal half-time lead against Unai Emery's men.

Los Che responded with a dominant showing after the break but had only a solitary Vicente goal to show for their efforts.

Malaga remained level on points with Atletico Madrid after holding the capital club to a 1-1 draw in a finely-balanced encounter at La Rosaleda.

A wonder strike from Apono gave the Andalusians the lead against the run of play midway through the first half but they were pegged back by Javier Aguirre's men on the stroke of half-time when Johnny Heitinga forced the ball home from a free-kick.

Substitute Roberto Soldado netted a hat-trick to help Getafe end their losing streak in style with a 5-1 win over Sporting Gijon.

Soldado started the game on the bench but ended it as his side's hero as Getafe finally got back to winning ways after a run of four successive defeats that had left coach Victor Munoz under pressure.

Soldado struck in the 15th minute, just 60 seconds after replacing the injured Manu del Moral, and again just before the hour mark before completing his treble from the penalty spot 17 minutes from time, while Ikechukwu Uche and Esteban Granero were also on the mark for the hosts.

Sporting claimed a goal back through David Barral in first-half injury time.

Espanyol dropped to 19th place despite a respectable 1-1 draw at Real Valladolid.

Swedish striker Henok Goitom headed Valladolid ahead shortly before half-time, but Sergio Sanchez rescued a point for relegation-threatened Espanyol 12 minutes from time.

Almeria's improved form under new coach Hugo Sanchez continues as they picked up three points with a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao to increase their chances of avoiding the drop.

Juanma Ortiz headed Almeria in front in the 26th minute and Kalu Uche doubled their lead five minutes before the break.

Joseba Del Olmo grabbed one back for Athletic in the 66th minute.

Javier Camunas scored the only goal of the game as Recreativo Huelva moved six points clear of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win over Real Betis in a hard-fought Andalusian derby.

Saturday's other match saw Villarreal and Osasuna draw 1-1.

RTE