Spanish Primera Liga Weekly Review

Weekly report : 7.3.2010

Real Madrid recovered from two down to beat Sevilla 3-2 and replace title rivals Barcelona at the Primera Division summit with 62 points on goal difference after the Catalans drew 2-2 at Almeria. A goal from Rafael van der Vaart two minutes into added time earned Real a dramatic victory, while Barcelona twice came from behind to draw with Almeria thanks to a double strike from Lionel Messi.

Valencia are third with 46 points and can strengthen their position with a win at home to Racing Santander on Monday. Mallorca swept aside Gijon 3-0 and joined fourth-placed Sevilla on 43 points. Despite having a better goal difference, Mallorca are fifth due to their inferior head-to-head record with Sevilla. Deportivo La Coruna remain sixth after a 3-1 comeback victory at home to lowly Tenerife.

Team of the week

Statistics

Weekly report : 28.2.2010

Lionel Messi's 17th goal of the season gave Barcelona a 2-1 win over Malaga to stay top of the Primera Division on Saturday after Real Madrid had earlier won 5-1 at Tenerife to temporarily top the standings. Real's sixth straight victory briefly sent them a point clear at the top on 59 points from 24 matches before the Catalan club restored their two-point lead.

Striker Diego Forlan netted twice as improving Atletico Madrid trounced nine-man Valencia 4-1 in the Primera Division on Sunday while Sevilla also had a player dismissed and were held 0-0 at home to Athletic Bilbao. Valencia are 13 points behind Real on 46 in third and Sevilla are fourth on 43, three ahead of Mallorca, who won 2-1 at struggling Valladolid.

Weekly report : 22.2.2010

Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Real Madrid to a 6-2 victory over Villarreal that moved them two points behind Barcelona. The Primera Division leaders crushed Racing Santander 4-0 to move on to 58 points from 23 games. Real have 56 and third-placed Valencia, who host Getafe on Monday, have 43. Sevilla are fourth on 42 points after a 3-1 victory at Mallorca, who lost their perfect home record.

Mallorca slipped to sixth with 37, one behind Deportivo La Coruna, who beat bottom club Xerez 2-1. Seventh-placed Athletic Bilbao remain firmly in the hunt for a berth in UEFA club competition next term thanks to a 4-1 home victory against Tenerife. Inconsistent Atletico Madrid, who last weekend were the first side to beat Barcelona in the league this season, fell 1-0 at Almeria.