Real Mallorca made club history yesterday when they won their sixth successive Primera Division match to move into the top three behindÿReal Sociedad and Valencia.
Walter Pandiani scored twice as Mallorca beatÿ Alaves 3-1, and, after a traumatic start to the season which saw them lose their opening thee games, they are now just three points behind leaders Real who were held 1-1 byÿ Deportivo La Coruna.
Pandiani opened the scoring on the half-hour mark with a header, set up the second for Ariel Ibagaza on 67 minutes before adding a third with a 78th-minute penalty. Adrian Ilie was able to score an added-time consolation.
Leaders Real Sociedad stayed top despite being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Deportivo La Coruna at the Anoeta stadium. Darko Kovacevic opened the scoring for ÿReal on 28 minutes, but levelled the scores on the strker of half-time.
The draw keeps Real three points clear of Valencia who were only able to secure a point against Real Betis. Pablo Aimar rescued a point for Rafaell Benitiez’s side when he struck 8 minutes from time.
Celta Vigo are in fourth after a narrow 1-0 win against struggling Espanyol.
Real Madrid were pleased to emerge with the points after a five-goal thriller against Madrid neighboours Rayo Vallecano on Saturday. Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Luis Figo were all on target, the latter, a superb free-kick in injury-time that sealed the points, after first Jorge Azkoitia, and then Julio Alavarez, had hauled the home side back into the game.
Barcelona produced another unimpressive performance against Villarreal. Juan Riquelme scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot with 16 minutes remaining. The win takes Barcelona up to sixth, a point behind arch-rivals Real Madrid.
In seventh spot, level on points with Barcelona, lie Malaga, whose impressive start to the season continued against Osasuna. Dario Silva’s 68th-minute strike was the only goal of the game.
