Valencia 2 - Barcelona 2 (La Liga, April 25, 2009) (Longer highlights here, extended highlights here.) Barca scored yet another brilliant goal to stick into the catalogue to move ahead in Valencia, Iniesta and Leo Messi involved in a series of one-two that tore through the home defence. But Valencia rallied in the final minutes of the half, Hedwiges Maduro headed home a 43rd minute corner before Pablo Hernandez breached through the heart of the Barca backline to coolly slot in the second. Thierry Henry was brought off the bench with half an hour to play and the Frenchman popped up with an 86th minute equaliser to keep the Catalan bandwagon ticking over to the title.

Malaga 1 - Deportivo La Coruna 1 (La Liga, April 25, 2009) Malaga were awarded an indirect free-kick against Depor just after the half hour mark and Albert Luque crashed home the opener through a crowded penalty box. Fernando drew Malaga level with a header after starting and finishing a move in the 50th minute.

Almeria 2 - Numancia 1 (La Liga, April 25, 2009) Almeria headed into the break 2-up over Numancia after scoring at the start and the end of the first half. Kalu Uche fired in the first after six minutes while poor defending allowing Negrado to nip in a steal possession just before the break, with the number 9 laying the ball on Fernando Soriano’s plate to grab the second. Asier Goiria netted a late header for Numancia.

Villarreal 2 - Recreativo Huelva 1 (La Liga, April 23, 2009) The Yellow Submarine’s defence were caught out inside 60 seconds, failing to clear their lines with Javier Camunas sliding home the opener. But Recre could not hold out until the break, Joseba Llorente collecting a ball over the top and chipping the keeper with a superb lob. Villarreal turned the game around in the 66th minute, Cani picked up the ball on the right hand side of the box, beat a defender and then lifted the ball over the keeper with a delicate chip (over the line?) into the near post.

Sporting Gijon 0 - Espanyol 3 (La Liga, April 23, 2009) (Longer highlights here.) The Catalans took a 25th minute lead, Nene cracking home a perfect left-footed volley into the far bottom corner. The visitors grabbed a second 16 minutes from time as Roman Martinez settled their nerves. Jose Callejon wrapped things up two minutes later, before Gijon’s misery was compounded on 78 minutes when Torres David Barral was given his marching orders.

Racing Santander 5 - Atletico Madrid 1 (La Liga, April 23, 2009) Racing tore through Atletico’s porous defence in the first half, Christian Fernandez bundling home the opener from a free-kick after 9 minutes before Ezequiel Garay headed home the second from a similar free-kick just six minutes later. Mohammed Tchite then put the game to bed with a third before the break, again taking advantage of poor defending through Atletico’s soft centre. Diego Forlan pulled a goal back from the spot after Kin Ageuro was fouled on the hour mark, but Racing quickly restored their 3-goal cushion as Pedro Munitis netted the hosts fourth with a cute lob. Nikola Zigic added a humiliating fifth three minutes from time.

Mallorca 2 - Valladolid 0 (La Liga, April 23, 2009) A brace from Alhassane Keita helped Mallorca beat Valladolid as they continued their climb away from the relegation zone.

Barcelona 4 - Sevilla 0 (La Liga, April 22, 2009) (Longer highlights here.) After 3 minutes at the Nou Camp Andres Iniesta picked up the ball 20-yards out and, after no-one came to close down, the number 8 curled a beauty into the top left corner. After 17 minutes it was two, Samuel Eto’o slotting home the second after a one-two between Iniesta and Xavi. Barca toyed with their opponents after the break as Xavi Hernandez hit the third, and the Catalans soon chalked up a fourth as Thierry Henry got on the scoresheet.

Real Betis 1 - Valencia 2 (La Liga, April 22, 2009) Serial-goalscorer David Villa benefited from great work from David Silva and Mata to fired Valencia ahead at Real Betis. David Villa then grabbed his second of the game before Ricardo Oliveira netted a consolation three minutes from time.

Osasuna 2 - Malaga 3 (La Liga, April 22, 2009) Malaga took an early lead at Osasuna after Antonio Apono slotted away a fourth minute penalty. But the hosts soon drew level, working a move down the left which released Jaroslav Plasil, who finished through the keeper’s legs. On the half hour Osasuna took the lead, Javad Nekounam curled a fantastic free-kick over the wall and into the top corner. Osasuna then had Patxi Punal and Josetxo sent off, while Malaga had Jesus Gamez dismissed, before the vistors levelled through Lolo’s back post header in the 72nd minute. Five minutes later Salva Ballesta headed home the winner for Champions League chasers Malaga.

Deportivo La Coruna 2 - Almeria 0 (La Liga, April 22, 2009) Deportivo won at home thanks to second half goals from Joan Verdu and Lassad to stay eighth, level on points with Atletico and Villarreal.

Real Madrid 3 - Getafe 2 (La Liga, April 21, 2009) (Longer highlights here.) Robert Soldado stunned the Bernabeu, heading Getafe into a 10th minute lead. On the stroke of half-time Gonzalo Higuain rounded the keeper and tapped the ball into the net to level it up at 1-1. The game came to life with six minutes to go, Juan Albin fired Getafe into the lead again only for Guti to equalise with a terrific left-footed free-kick. From the kick-off, Getafe won a penalty Pepe guilty of a foul on Casquero and then a crazy assault which saw him sent off. Casquero subsequently took a horrible penalty easily saved by Casillas and Gonzalo Higuain secured an incredible win with another excellent strike.

Numancia 1 - Athletic Bilbao 2 (La Liga, April 21, 2009) Bilbao eased their relegation fears, coming from behind to claim all three points after a deflected effort from Domingo Cisma had given Numancia the lead. Gaizka Toquero equalised with a fine run and excellent finish into the top corner and Fernando Llorente won the match early in the second half.

Real Betis 2 - Sporting Gijon 0 (La Liga, April 19, 2009) Achille Emana scored one of the goals of the weekend to give Betis the lead over Sporting, the hosts worked a quick attack from the left hand side into the box and, after the ball popped up just inside the box, Emana smashed home an unstoppable volley that tore into the top corner. Achille Emana grabbed his second 20 minutes from time to seal the victory.

Valencia 3 - Sevilla 1 (La Liga, April 19, 2009) (Longer highlights here.) A fine header from Julien Escude gave Sevilla the lead in the first half, but yet again David Villa was called upon the take a spot-kick and the striker never looked like missing. Juan Mata sealed the win in the hosts favour with a second penalty seven minutes from time before Pablo Hernandez added a third in injury time.

Espanyol 1 - Racing Santander 0 (La Liga, April 19, 2009) Ivan Alonso’s goal just before the hour mark was the difference between the sides.

Almeria 2 - Osasuna 1 (La Liga, April 19, 2009) Almeria’s dominance finally paid off in the 71st minute though when Alvaro Negredo stabbed home the opener. Walter Pandiani then looked to have broken Almeria hearts by netting Osasuna’s equaliser six minutes from time. But Almeria rightly picked up the points when Ortiz skipped down the right and crossed in for Alvaro Negredo to send a thumping header past Roberto to seal the spoils for his side.

Valladolid 0 - Villarreal 0 (La Liga, April 19, 2009) Giuseppe Rossi missed a penalty just after the hour mark, with Inaki Bea sent off for conceding the spot-kick, costing Villarreal two points in the race to clinch the Spanish league’s final Champions League place.

Getafe 0 - Barcelona 1 (La Liga, April 18, 2009) (Longer highlights here.) Lionel Messi finished off a move involving Eto’o and Xavi to put Barcelona into the lead at Getafe. Later in the first half Thierry Henry missed a one-on-one chance to double the scoreline.

Recreativo Huelva  0 - Real Madrid 1 (La Liga, April 18, 2009) Marcelo ran onto Gago’s precise through pass in the 49th minute to seal victory for Real and keep alive their hopes of overhauling their rivals as the season draws to a close.

Athletic Bilbao 0 - Deportivo La Coruna 1 (La Liga, April 18, 2009) Pablo Alvarez’s 86th minute shot deflected off a defender to land in goal and leave Athletic at the bottom of the standings.

Malaga 1 - Mallorca 1 (La Liga, April 18, 2009) Following a largely forgettable first half with few chances for either side, Malaga took the lead after 53 minutes through Apono. Mallorca hit back just six minutes later with a free-kick from captain Juan Arango and held on nervously at the end to move a point closer to survival.

Atletico Madrid 3 - Numancia 0 (La Liga, April 18, 2009) Ever Banega, Diego Forlan and Sabrosa Simao scored second half goals, for Atletico to tie fourth-place Valencia.