Barcelona snatched victory from the jaws of a stalemate at home to Osasuna, substitute Xavi's 87th minute strike earning a vital 1-0 win and reducing the difference with Liga leaders Real Madrid to six points.

Amid torrential rain and on a pitch containing large amounts of surface water on the flanks and in the corners, Xavi popped up to coolly half-volley home with Osasuna 'keeper Ricardo stranded and throw the title race back wide open.

Barça had struggled to attack from their usual wide areas because of the conditions, their best work coming through the middle and teenage star Bojan Krkic.

The crowd seemed buoyant after Real Madrid's loss to Almeria on Saturday and their heroes were dominant in the first half, hogging the possession from an Osasuna side playing only Sola in attack.

Andres Iniesta sped into the box to flick over Ricardo, who got enough on the ball to allow Nacho Monreal to fly back and head over from almost underneath the crossbar.

Barcelona went even closer to opening the scoring when Lionel Messi slipped in Deco on the right and the Portuguese's ball across the goalmouth was mere millimetres away from Bojan's lunging studs.

Jaroslav Plasil and Francisco Punal worked hard throughout to keep the chances limited and the second half was a completely different story for the attacking exploits of Barcelona.

Frank Rijkaard threw on Giovani then Ronaldinho for Thierry Henry - who had seen two headers blocked by Ricardo from point-blank range in the first period - and Messi in an attempt to mix things up.

The efforts on goal and numerous set-pieces led to nothing, however, and it looked as though Barça would allow the chance to make up ground on their great rivals to go begging; then Xavi, on the pitch for only seven minutes, sent the Camp Nou into raptures.

A long ball to the far side of the penalty area was controlled then cut back by Mexican Giovani, who set up Iniesta.

The Catalan drove a shot at goal that was blocked and the ball fell to Xavi 25 yards out. With Ricardo struggling to get back across his goal, the midfielder finished with aplomb.

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Atletico 1-1 Murcia

Atletico made it three weeks without a win with a home draw against Murcia.

They fell behind when midfielder Jofre scored from the penalty spot early in the second half after Fabiano Eller had pulled back Ivan Alonso in the area.

Former Liverpool player Luis Garcia equalised nine minutes later when he unleashed a powerful shot into the far corner.

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Getafe 0-1 Espanyol

Espanyol ended their three-match losing streak and moved up to third place with this narrow win over Getafe who had their opponents on the ropes for much of the second half.

Midfielder Jonathan Soriano scored the winner when he clipped in from close range after winger Francisco Rufete had swept a great curling pass behind the Getafe back four in the 17th minute.

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Levante 1-1 Racing

Levante went in front 11 minutes after the break, in-form striker Riga drilling home after the ball had ricocheted into his path from a corner.

The Liga basement side were deprived of a second win in a row when Racing midfielder Aldo Duscher scored from the penalty spot after he appeared to take a dive in the area.

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Recreativo 1-2 Sevilla

Current 'Pichichi' - the Liga's leading scorer - Luis Fabiano took his tally for the season to 16 with a coolly taken double against struggling Recre.

The Brazilian chipped the ball over the keeper for his first four minutes after his side had been reduced to 10 men with the sending off of centre-back Aquivaldo Mosquera.

Recre forward Ersen Martin also received his marching orders nine minutes from time although his side did manage a late consolation when defender Beto headed in from a free-kick.

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Valladolid 0-2 Valencia

A welcome first league win in 10 outings for Ronald Koeman's Valencia which came courtesy of neat goals from Juan Mata and David Villa.

Mata squeezed a well struck shot inside the post on the hour and Villa scored his first in 10 games when he side-footed home from close range 12 minutes later.

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Villarreal 1-1 Mallorca

Villarreal took the lead when Italian striker Giuseppe Rossi snapped home from spot after a fiercely disputed penalty given when midfielder Santi Cazorla went down in the area in the 27th minute.

But Mallorca levelled with an even more controversial spot kick of their own, Greek striker Angelos Basinas converting a penalty given despite there being no clear offence in the area.

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Zaragoza 1-0 Athletic Club

Brazilian striker Ricardo Oliveira gave Javier Irureta his first win since taking charge of the team when he steered home a far-post volley after fellow striker Diego Milito had whipped in a cross from the right just before the half-hour.

Athletic's Aitor Ocio was sent off in injury-time although the centre-back appeared to be the victim of a foul by Zaragoza defender Sergio.

Click on the link below the picture for LIVE scoring on Barcelona v Osasuna!!

Jonathan Symcox / Reuters