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Real Madrid jumped two places to third in La Liga after a 1-0 home win against sixth-placed Villarreal thanks to an Arjen Robben screamer.

The Netherlands winger came inside from the right and shimmied across the penalty area past several challenges before curling a hard shot into the far top corner, leaving Diego Lopez with no chance.

Former Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra and Netherlands striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar made their debuts for Real but both were substituted in the second half after playing small roles in the win.

With both teams on 29 points before the start of the match, a win for either would have seen them go third behind Valencia, who like leaders Barcelona were winners on Saturday.

There were several chances at either end, with Iker Casillas pulling off a sensational fingertip stop from a close-range Giuseppe Rossi header in the second half.

He also denied the creator of that chance, substitute Ariel Ibagaza, with a save low to his left.

Another sub, Joseba Llorente, was prevented from levelling by the Spain shot-stopper after wasting a pair of other chances.

Robben hit the woodwork for Real after 12 minutes, his shot from outside the box after a driving run deflected by a diving Gonzalo Rodriguez on to the bar and over.

The flying winger's goal in the 32nd minute proved the winner in a match littered with fouls and bookings, with Marcos Senna especially livid over a yellow card that ruled the Spain midfielder out of Villarreal's crucial derby against Valencia next weekend.

Immediately after the goal Robert Pires forced Casillas into a low save after Senna had won the ball and Rossi played it down the channel for him.

Raul and Fabio Cannavaro should have scored a second for the home side, while Lopez denied Huntelaar with a point-blank save just before half-time.

SEVILLA 1 OSASUNA 1

Sevilla missed the chance to go back above Real and Valencia into second as Walter Pandiani's 91st-minute equaliser earned Osasuna a 1-1 draw at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Osasuna were the better side in the first half, but Sevilla took the lead after 50 minutes when Jesus Navas chested down on the edge of the box before firing an unstoppable volley into the far bottom corner.

The edgy home fans saw Fredi Kanoute miss a golden chance with his head in the first half.

The Malian, who had a tee-shirt with the word 'Palestine' written upon it visible under his rain-soaked Sevilla shirt, could have snatched the points when another header four minutes into injury-time was diverted on to the crossbar by visiting goalkeeper Roberto.

Having missed the chance to display his message regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Sevilla remain fourth in the table.

ATHLETIC BILBAO 1 ESPANYOL 1

Andoni Iraola's acrobatic overhead kick with around 10 minutes left secured a point for the home side and cancelled out Moises Hurtado's goal shortly before half-time.

Espanyol remain in the relegation zone in 18th place on 14 points from 17 matches and Athletic have 20 and are in 13th.

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MALAGA 1 SPORTING GIJON 0

Malaga defender Lolo outjumped Sporting keeper Sergio Sanchez to head Duda's corner into the empty net for the only goal just after the half hour.

The result leaves Malaga in eighth spot with 25 points while Sporting are in 12th on 21.

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REAL VALLADOLID 0 RACING SANTANDER 1

Striker Nicola Zigic scored on his return to the Racing ranks following a disappointing spell at Valencia to claim the three points for the visitors.

The two-metres tall Serbian, who had an earlier effort ruled out for offside, found the target in the 64th minute when he turned the ball into the net after Valladolid keeper Justo Villar came for the ball and failed to claim.

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RECREATIVO HUELVA 3 NUMANCIA 1

Struggling Recreativo claimed a precious win with goals from Javi Fuego, Javier Camunas and Aitor Tornavaca before Gorka Brit scored Numancia's consolation near the end when he fired into the far corner from the edge of the area.

Recreativo goalkeeper Asier Riesgo saved a penalty with just over a quarter of an hour gone and the home side took the lead shortly after when Fuego blasted in a long-range freekick.

Camunas doubled Recre's lead straight after the restart, pouncing on the rebound from Adrian Colunga's shot, and Tornavaca chipped in midway through the second period.

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ALMERIA 1 REAL BETIS 0

Almeria's new Mexican coach Hugo Sanchez had a winning start after Corona's freekick swung in from the left somehow evaded the players grouped in the area and squeezed under Betis keeper Casto Espinosa to give the home side the lead on 36 minutes.

Almeria held on and both sides finished the match with 10 men after Kalu Uche and Sergio Garcia saw red.

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GETAFE 1 DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA 2

Deportivo grabbed a late winner thanks to a hotly-disputed Sergio penalty to leapfrog Villarreal into sixth, level on 30 points with fifth-placed Atletico Madrid.

The referee ruled that Getafe keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri had brought down striker Rodolfo Bodipo although the Depor player appeared to go to ground too easily.

A classy volley from Getafe striker Manu del Moral had earlier cancelled out Bodipo's neat strike in an ill-tempered match in Madrid.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport / Reuters