Real Madrid's lead at the top of La Liga was cut to four points after they were beaten 3-2 at home by Valencia and second-placed Barcelona won 4-1 against Valladolid.

In the game at the Bernabeu, Valencia took the lead through a composed finish from David Villa after half an hour, but Raul hit back immediately with a header and put his side in front 10 minutes into the second half.

The visitors drew when Villa scored from the spot after David Silva had won a dubious penalty, and they completed their smash-and-grab raid in the last minute when Arizmendi skipped past Fabio Cannavaro before slotting the ball inside Iker Casillas's near post.

Barcelona 4-1 Valladolid

A second-half double from youngster Bojan Krkic helped Barcelona to their first league victory in four outings as they overcame a nervous spell to beat Valladolid 4-1 at the Nou Camp.

Barca headed into the match under heavy pressure after taking just one point from their previous three league games and losing to Valencia in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.

They looked edgy after Valladolid midfielder Jonathan Sesma cancelled out a Samuel Eto'o goal with a penalty on the half hour, but Andres Iniesta settled their nerves when he restored their lead at the start of the second half.

Krkic made it 3-1, clipping in from a tight angle just after the hour, and capped an outstanding display when he poked home from a yard after Eto'o had swerved round the keeper and slid a pass across the face of the goal.

Levante 1 Villarreal 2

Villarreal remain just two points behind Barca in third spot after Mexico striker Guillermo Franco struck a late winner to see off basement side Levante.

Villarreal took the lead just before the half hour when Chile midfielder Matias Fernandez drilled home from the edge of the area, but Miguel Angel headed in an equaliser midway through the second half.

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Osasuna 0 Real Betis 1

Former Liverpool midfielder Mark Gonzalez earned Betis a valuable away win when he cracked a firm shot into the net after a free-kick had been touched into his path early in the second half.

Osasuna midfielder Javi Garcia was sent off after picking up a second booking a minute from time.

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Racing Santander 2 Recreativo Heulva 0

Racing took advantage of the red card for Recreativo defender Martin Caceres 25 minutes from time to claim a win that lifted them into fifth place in the table.

Uruguayan midfielder Sergio Orteman smacked home the first and Poland striker Obi Smolarek sealed the win in added time when he slid the ball home from 30 yards out after a break out from a corner.

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Real Murcia 4 Espanyol 0

An emphatic first win for Murcia coach Javier Clemente since taking charge at the start of the month.

Striker Ivan Alonso opened from the penalty spot and then headed in another at the start of the second half.

Midfielder Abel made it 3-0 with another spot kick manufactured by Alonso and midfielder Richi wrapped up with a late header.

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Real Zaragoza 1 Almeria 1

Zaragoza went into this game having lost on five of their previous six outings and this unsatisfactory draw leaves them just a point above the drop zone.

Brazil striker Ricardo Oliveira headed the home side in front just eight minutes after team mate Gabi had been sent off, but Almeria snatched a point when Alvaro Negredo stabbed in from close range in added time.

Reuters / Tom Williams / Eurosport