A second-half own goal from Pepe earned Deportivo a shock win against runaway leaders Real Madrid in La Liga.

Madrid began the night with an eight-point lead over second-placed Barcelona, but it was relegation-threatened Deportivo who earned the spoils with a disclipined and clinicial performance.

The home side desperately needed three points to bolster their survival hopes, and deservedly took the lead just before the hour mark. Filipe Luis was the architect, bursting down the left flank before seeing his cross deflected past the wrong-footed Iker Casillas.

In what was a strangely uneventful game, Madrid's attacking threat was nullified by a highly-organised Deportivo - who packed midfield and feverishly closed down available space.

The league leaders were limited to speculative long-range efforts, including a wild blast from Guti which sailed high into the stands, summing up his team's attacking aspirations. Up front, Raul and Soldado were woefully ineffective.

Royston Drenthe perhaps the only player to make an impression. A surprise inclusion at the expense of Robinho, his marauding runs down the left flank appeared the most likely to open up the Deportivo defence.

When the moment for Robinho's inevitable arrival came, it changed little. The galacticos failed to create a single clear-cut chance the entire evening.

For the home side, Filipe was outstanding - time and again unlocking the Real defence with his incisive breaks. It was no surprise when his contribution ultimately led to Pepe's mis-timed clearance, which gifted the home side all three points.

Deportivo's win lifts them to the relative safety of 13th - taking their unbeaten run to four games.

For Madrid, this missed opportunity to extend their lead at the top of La Liga could come back to haunt them . If Barcelona win at Almeria on Sunday the gap falls to just five points, and with the great rivals scheduled to meet on May we could yet be in for a title race to savour.

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REAL BETIS 1 ATHLETIC BILBAO 2 (Abandoned)

The game was abandoned with Bilbao leading 2-1 after visiting goalkeeper Armando was hit in the face by a bottle thrown from the stands in the second half.

Midfielder Fran Yeste had given Bilbao the lead when he broke clear to score after eight minutes but Chilean forward Mark Gonzalez grabbed a deserved equaliser when he fired against the post and put away the rebound before the break.

Midfielder David Lopez put Bilbao back in front with a twice-taken penalty in the 66th before Armando was injured.

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RECREATIVO HUELVA 4 REAL MURCIA 2

Murcia scored their first goal in six matches when midfielder Enrique de Lucas fired in from a knockdown at a free-kick in the 16th minute, but French striker Florent Sinama Pongolle levelled with a header three minutes later.

Argentine Marco Ruben put Recre 2-1 up in the second half with a great finish and Sinama Pongolle made it 3-1 just after Murcia had defender Cesar Arzo sent off in the 69th.

Striker Ivan Alonso pulled one back from the penalty spot for Murcia in the 74th but midfielder Marquitos wrapped up the points for Recre with five minutes to go.

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VALENCIA 0 SEVILLA 2

Sevilla stormed in front with Brazil striker Luis Fabiano curling in a freekick after 11 minutes and he soon reacted quickly to divert Seydou Keita's long-range shot past Timo Hildebrand, taking his tally for the season to 22.

Valencia's poor home form continued to dog them and although they pulled a goal back through defender Raul Albiol at a corner in the 90th they offered little else.

Will Tidey / Reuters / Eurosport