Real Madrid maintained their hot streak of form with a fine 2-0 victory over rivals Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon.

Barcelona remain seven points behind after they recorded a 1-0 win over Racing Santander in an underwhelming game at the Camp Nou.

And Valladolid striker Joseba Llorente scored the fastest ever goal in Liga history when he put the ball in the net just seven seconds his side's match at home to Espanyol.

ATLETICO MADRID 0 REAL MADRID 2

The champions came flying out of the blocks and were a goal up after just 32 seconds through captain Raul.

Iker Casillas performed miracles to keep the score level before Ruud Van Nistelrooy volleyed home a second just before half-time.

No sooner had the 48000 fans packed inside the Vicente Calderon settled down after kick-off, than their team was already a goal down. Robinho pressurised Pablo Ibanez into an error on the touchline, nicked the ball away while turning on a sixpence, and pulled back an inch-perfect ball for Raul, who slotted home into the far post with just 32 seconds on the clock.

Atletico were stunned, and were almost carved apart again two minutes later as Van Nistelrooy burst through, only to be ajudged marginally offside. More nervous glances were exchanged between Pablo and Luis Perea when Robinho screwed a header wide from just eight yards.

When the home side finally did get going midway through the half, they found Real 'keeper Iker Casillas at the absolute top of his game. First Diego Forlan saw a low shot saved well at the near post before Thiago Motta saw a header come back off the crossbar.

Casillas then produced a fine stop from an Aguero header just after the half hour mark before pulling off a truly world class save to tip a curling shot from the little Argentinian onto the crossbar.

Two minutes later, the difference between the two 'keepers was there for all to see as Christian Abbiati failed to keep out a Van Nistelrooy volley despite getting two hands on the ball.

Real emerged from the break with the clear intent of protecting their 2-0 lead at all costs, and succeeded in stifling the hitherto incisive attacks of their opponents.

Forlan was restricted to speculative efforts from outside the area while Aguero was a peripheral figure until the 75th minute when he curled a right foot shot round the post after coming inside Fabio Cannavaro.

Robinho missed a good chance to wrap things up late on for Real after a fumble from Abbbiati, though it was to prove immaterial, as Bernd Schuster's side ran the clock down well to secure the win.

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BARCELONA 1 RACING SANTANDER 0

Thierry Henry scored the only goal of the game, heading home a loose ball from close range after 30 minutes.

It was Racing Santander who enjoyed the better of the largely pedestrian early exchanges, and they may have gone ahead had Mohamed Tchite picked out the run of Ivan Bolado after he had raced past Carles Puyol on the left flank.

Henry headed over from Barcelona's first real chance midway through the first-half, though he made no mistake five minutes later when a corner was inadequately dealt with by the Racing defence.

The goal failed to galvanise a disjointed Barcelona side though, and the Santander defence were able to deal with all of their opponents' forward ventures in open play.

A similarly uneventful start to the second-half was enlivened when Oscar Serrano won possession in midfield and burst through the centre, before forcing Victor Valdes into a fine save, though Barca's response was immediate, as Andres Iniesta saw a volley stopped by Racing 'keeper Fabio Coltorti.

Lionel Messi was finally introduced to huge cheers from the otherwise quiet Barca faithful, and injected a modicum of excitement into proceedings, helping orchestrate a quick break on 70 minutes that saw Coltorti deny Bojan Krkic from Henry's cross.

Racing did their best to mount a late fightback during the closing stages, but lacked the quality in the final third to genuinely trouble the Barcelona defence.

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ALMERIA 1 DEPORTIVO CORUNA 0

A third defeat in a row for relegation-threatened Deportivo that will heap further pressure on coach Miguel Angel Lotina.

The Galicians looked as though they might earn themselves an away point until Almeria midfielder Ruben Pulido stabbed in from close range after a free-kick two minutes from time.

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LEVANTE 2 REAL MALLORCA 2

Basement side Levante scored their first goals in six outings but still only came away with a point.

Striker Alexandre Geijo put the home side in front early in the first-half but Mallorca hit back with two well taken goals from leading striker Dani Guiza on 31 and 78 minutes.

Defender Alvaro stopped Mallorca claiming their first win in seven matches when he headed in from a free-kick a minute from time.

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OSASUNA 2 ATHLETIC BILBAO 0

A tight contest until Bilbao playmaker Fran Yeste lost his cool and was sent-off for an attempted headbutt on Osasuna midfielder Ignacio Monreal just after the hour.

Osasuna took immediate advantage hitting two goals in the next seven minutes, Cape Verde striker Dady cracking in the first with a powerful free kick and Mexican midfielder Carlos Vela smashing in a second almost straight from the restart.

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REAL BETIS 1 RECREATIVO HUELVA 1

Honours even in this clash between the two Andalucian strugglers.

Brazilian forward Edu put Betis in front 12 minutes into the second-half when he headed in at the far post, but Recreativo equalised just over a minute later, striker Javi Guerrero nodding in after a free-kick.

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VALLADOLID 2 ESPANYOL 1

A game to remember for Valladolid striker Joseba Llorente, who scored the fastest goal in Liga's history when he put his side in front with just seven seconds on the clock.

Llorente, who had notched up four goals in the league and Copa del Rey in his side's last two games, also scored his side's second 11 minutes before half-time.

Espanyol, who lost their first game in 15 last weekend, pulled one back early in the second-half when Marc Torrejon heading in after Luis Garcia curled a free kick into the area.

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REAL ZARAGOZA 3 REAL MURCIA 1

Zaragoza celebrated Ander Garitano's Liga debut as coach with their first win in 10 outings.

Brazilian striker Ricardo Oliveira put Zaragoza ahead 11 minutes before the break when he clipped the ball in over keeper Antonio Notario.

Strike partner Diego Milito took his tally for the season to 13 with a coolly taken second-half double before Ivan Alonso scored a late consolation for the visitors in stoppage time.

Reuters