Atletico Madrid 2 - Barcelona 1 (La Liga, February 14, 2010) (Longer highlights here.) For the first time this season Barca fell behind in a domestic match at Atletico Madrid as the Catalans makeshift backline was torn open and Diego Forlan capitalised to score the opener after 10 minutes. Barca then fell further behind as Simao smacked home an unstoppable free-kick that ripped into the far top corner. The Catalans soon pulled themselves back into the game when Zlatan Ibrahimovic headed in a 27th minute corner for the Swedes first goal since mid-November.

Sevilla 1 - Osasuna 0 (La Liga, February 14, 2010) A first half header from Luis Fabiano proved the difference between the sides.

Racing Santander 0 - Malaga 3 (La Liga, February 14, 2010) Malaga beat Racing Santander with goals from Weligton, Salvador Caicedo and Victor Obinna. Santander’s Mohamed Tchite was sent off in the 79th minute for dissent.

Espanyol 2 - Deportivo La Coruna 0 (La Liga, February 14, 2010) Deportivo missed the chance to move up to fourth in La Liga on Sunday, crashing away to lively Espanyol through goals from Joan Verdu and Jose Callejon.

Valladolid 1 - Zaragoza 1 (La Liga, February 14, 2010) The home side took a deserved advantage thanks to the head of Diego da Costa on 23 minutes. But the Blanquillos hit back before the interval in some style, thanks to a stunning run and shot from new Chilean hitman Humberto Suazo.

Getafe 2 - Almeria 2 (La Liga, February 14, 2010) It looked like Getafe were going to bounce back from the disappointment of this week’s cup defeat with a three-point haul, though, as goals from Javi Casquero and Roberto Soldado saw them leading 2-1 heading into the final minutes. However, it was not to be as Soriano’s 92nd minute equaliser saved lowly Almeria and continued their decent run under new coach Juan Manuel Lillo, who has now lost just one game in seven since replacing Hugo Sanchez during the winter break.

Xerez 0 - Real Madrid 3 (La Liga, February 13, 2010) A shock was on the cards at the interval at Xerez as Real were struggling to find their rhythm on the difficult surface. (First half highlights here.) Real had to wait until the 64th minute to find the breakthrough and when it arrived it came from an unlikely source as Alvaro Arbeloa found himself collecting the final ball from a back to front attack and, to his credit, the former Liverpool defender produced a calm finish. With the ice broken, Real were quick to bag a second as Kaka whipped in a right wing cross that Cristiano Ronaldo converted with a bullet header. Two minutes later it was three as Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo combined again for the returning forward to claim his brace.

Villareal 2 - Athletic Bilbao 1 (La Liga, February 13, 2010) Joan Capdevilla fired the “Yellow Submarine” into the lead, Igor Gabilondo responded with a screamer only for Nilmar to win the match on the stroke of half time. Three players were sent off in the closing stages of the match.

Sporting Gijon 1 - Valencia 1 (La Liga, February 13, 2010) Valencia fell behind after six minutes at Gijon after Diego Castro broke the deadlock, and they had to wait until 15 minutes from time to level through Juan Mata.

Getafe 1 - Sevilla 0 (Agg. 1-2) (Copa del Rey semi-final second-leg, February 10, 2010) The home side’s pressure finally paid dividends when Robert Soldado’s diving header snuck inside the far post after 52 minutes. But Palop was in outstanding form in the visiting goal and as Getafe tired the Andalusians started to threaten on the break.

Racing Santander 1 - Atletico Madrid 1 (La Liga, February 7, 2010) After playing each other on Thursday in the Copa del Rey, these two sides met again. Diego Forlan opened the scoring, Gonzalo Colsa smashed home the equaliser.

Athletic Bilbao 3 - Xerez 2 (La Liga, February 7, 2010) The Basque side opened the scoring after just two minutes thanks to their prodigious teenager Iker Muniain nodded home a Toquero cross. Xerez turned this match around thanks to goals from Vicente Moreno and Mario Bermejo, to head into the interval with a shock lead. The bottom’s side brittle defence could not hold out for all three points, and a wonderful looping header from striker Fernando Llorente on 64 minutes gave Bilbao a deserved equaliser. Llorente was not done yet the classy frontman slotted home what proved to be the winner from close range with just four minutes remaining.

Mallorca 1 - Villarreal 0 (La Liga, February 7, 2010) Mallorca’s sensational home record (11 straight wins at home this season) continued after a late goal from Nunes consigned Juan Carlos Garrido to defeat in his first match in charge of Villarreal.

Osasuna 1 - Tenerife 0 (La Liga, February 7, 2010) Osasuna secured the points three minutes into the second half thanks to striker Carlos Aranda, who pounced on a through pass from Javier Camunas to slot the ball into the net.

Almeria 3 - Sporting Gijon 1 (La Liga, February 7, 2010) The match started in the worst possible fashion for Almeria, Chico receiving a straight red card for deliberate handball inside the area and Diego Castro slotted home the spot-kick. The ten men bounced back instantly and found an equaliser through Albert Crusat and the turnaround was complete on three minutes before the break when Domingo Cisma swung in a free-kick from all of 40 yards that evaded everyone to nestle in the corner of the net. Guilherme made sure of the win with ten minutes remaining.

Zaragoza 2 - Sevilla 1 (La Liga, February 7, 2010) (Longer highlights here.) Matteo Contini gave Zaragoza the lead on 31 minutes, but Fredi Kanoute drew Sevilla level just three minutes later. Zaragoza were gifted the winner three minutes before the break when Alvaro Negredo put through his own net. Negredo’s night got worse when he was sent off eight minutes from time and Zaragoza’s Perez Adrian Colunga and Sevilla’s Marius Stankevicius both saw red in the closing stages.

Malaga 0 - Deportivo La Coruna 0 (La Liga, February 7, 2010)

Real Madrid 3 - Espanyol 0 (La Liga, February 6, 2010) Sergio Ramos headed home a Granero free-kick to put Los Blancos ahead against Espanyol. Kaka doubled Real’s lead on the half hour when the Brazilian followed up Granero’s effort on goal. An injury time third from Gonzalo Higuain sealed the win.

Barcelona 2 - Getafe 1 (La Liga, February 6, 2010) Leo Messi scored yet another wonder-goal for Barca against Getafe, the pocket-sized dynamo curling home a 25-yard to put the Catalans into a sixth minute lead. Midway through the first half, Gerard Pique received a red card for a high tackle. Xavi claimed Barca’s second in the second half following a great run by Messi. Late on Rafa Marquez was sent off and Soldado dispatched a late penalty.

Valencia 2 - Valladolid 0 (La Liga, February 6, 2010) Valladolid fell behind after eight minutes in Valencia when home enforcer Ever Banega intercepted possession on the edge of the visitors’ box before making them pay with a thunderous drive into the top corner. Benaga then turned provider as the Argentine whipped in a delicious cross that David Villa converted with a diving header.

Atletico Madrid 4 - Racing Santander 0 (Copa Del Rey, February 4, 2010) It took just nine minutes for Simao to fire Atletico in front with a first-time strike into the roof of the net. Jose Antonio Reyes then doubled the lead five minutes before the interval, tapping home from close range after the Racing defence had failed to clear the ball. Forlan scored the first of his penalties after 62 minutes, although replays suggested Toni Moral’s challenge on Jose Manuel Jurado took place outside of the area. But there was no doubt over the second spot-kick eight minutes later, with Forlan again providing the finish after Sergio Aguero was sent to ground by Marc Torrejon.