Racing Santander 2 – Valencia 2 (La Liga, January 29, 2012) Fourth-bottom Racing took a shock lead inside the opening two minutes through Adrian Gonzalez but Valencia hit back to go ahead with a second-half brace from substitute Aritz Aduriz. Los Che could not hold onto their advantage, though, as Bernardo Espinosa drew the home side level in the 88th minute before both teams finished with 10 men as Racing veteran Pedro Munitis and Valencia defender Ricardo Costa were handed their marching orders in stoppage time.

Levante 1 – Getafe 2 (La Liga, January 29, 2012) Goals from Dani Guiza and Diego Castro helped give in-form Getafe their fourth win in six La Liga games against fourth-placed Levante.

Real Betis 1 – Granada 2 (La Liga, January 29, 2012) Striker Odion Ighalo put Granada ahead in the 13th minute with a low shot from the edge of the area, and Carlos Martins added the visitors’ second five minutes before halftime. The Andalucian hosts improved after the interval and substitute Jonathan Pereira made it 2-1 in the 81st.

Real Sociedad 5 – Sporting Gijon 1 (La Liga, January 29, 2012) David Zurutuza volleyed Antoine Griezmann’s cross into the left corner for Sociedad’s second-minute opener, and a minute later he scored with another shot from the right side of the area after Carlos Vela had played him clear. Miguel de las Cuevas grabbed one back for Sporting two minutes after halftime, only to see Sociedad’s Gorka Elustondo tap in a poorly defended corner kick in the 75th. Mikel Aranburu and Griezmann scored in stoppage time at Anoeta stadium to seal a win that lifted Sociedad four points clear of the drop.

Villarreal 0 – Barcelona 0 (La Liga, January 28, 2012) By far the best chance of a goalless first half fell to Lionel Messi, from a super Alves through ball, but the resultant chip just missed the target.

Post match interview: Cristian Tello & Cesc Fabregas.

Real Madrid 3 – Real Zaragoza 1 (La Liga, January 28, 2012) Real Zaragoza took a shock lead in the Bernabeu on 12 minutes when Lafita converted a low cross from Aranda. Kaka equalised just after the half hour with a smooth finish and the other side of half-time Cristiano Ronaldo converted a right wing cross for 2-1, looking a little offside. On 56 it was game over as Mesut Ozil fired home at the near post from a Kaka through ball.

Individual highlights: Cristiano Ronaldo & Mesut Ozil.

Post match interviews: Mesut Ozil & Kaka.

Espanyol 1 – Mallorca 0 (La Liga, January 28, 2012) Vladimir Weiss was on hand after Mallorca keeper Awat and a defender got in each other’s way to tap in the winner on 18.

Rayo Vallecano 2 – Athletic Bilbao 3 (La Liga, January 28, 2012) Michu scored Rayo’s opener. Fernando LLorente replied with two goals in six minutes. Alejandro Arribas equalised but midway through the second half Fernando Llorente scored the winner.

Levante 0 – Valencia 3 (Agg. 1-7) (Copa Del Rey, January 25, 2012) Goals by Aritz Aduriz and Pablo Piatti in the first half put the result out of reach of the hosts, before the Argentina international scored again five minutes from time, setting up a date with Barcelona in the semi-final.

Barcelona 2 – Real Madrid 2 (Agg. 4-3) (Copa Del Rey, January 25, 2012) (Longer highlights & Extended highlights.) All eyes were on Lionel Messi and Pepe’s hand shake before kick, whilst just ten seconds into the contest Real could have taken the lead as Gonzalo Higuain snuck in behind Pique only to see Pinto save his shot. Real continued to look threatening as Pinto saved well to deny Gonzalo Higuain a header from a free-kick. Los Blancos were desperately unlucky not to score in the 25th when Mesut Ozil thundered a 30-yarder against the Barca bar, the ball bounced down and somehow escaped going in the net. At the other end Pepe was lucky to escape a booking for a dive in a tangle with Carles Puyol. After dominating without scoring Real Madrid conceded in the 43rd; Messi drove at pace at the visitors defence, slipped a pass out wide to Pedro Rodriguez (where was Arbeloa?) and the sub coolly slotted in the opener. After Lionel Messi was booked in a revenge attack on Pepe, incredibly in the second minute of extra time of the first half Dani Alves belted home a sensational shot into the far top corner to leave Real feeling sick.

Madrid’s disappointment continued in the 53rd minute when Sergio Ramos had a header controversially disallowed. The Madridstas did have some joy in the 67th as Ozil slipped a pass to Cristiano Ronaldo who rounded Pinto and scored from an acute angle. Pepe was soon back under the microscope as he appeared to slap Cesc around the chops with a stray hand. Amazingly Real levelled the match 2-2 in the 71st when Karim Benzema collected a bouncing ball in attack, beat Puyol majestically and drilled home the equaliser. As Madrid huffed and puffed for a winner, Sergio Ramos was harshly sent off to leave Real with ten men.

Post-match interviews: Pep Guardiola, Dani Alves, Jose Mourinho & Pepe.

Individual highlights: Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta & Karim Benzema.

Mallorca 0 – Athletic Bilbao 1 (Agg. 0-3) (Copa Del Rey, January 25, 2012) The match was sealed by a horror own goal from Ivan Ramis in the 75th minute, as the defender watched his backpass trickle into the net after keeper Calatayud completely missed the ball.

Mirandes 2* – Espanyol 1 (Agg. 4-4) (Copa Del Rey quarter-finals, January 24, 2012) Rui Fonte had put La Liga outfit ahead early in the second-half, before Pablo Infante drew his side level little over ten minutes later. Espanyol came under incredibly pressure in the closing stages and in stoppage time Mirandes netted the winner when defender Cesar Caneda leaped highest to head the third-tier side into the semi-finals.