Real Madrid went six points clear at the top of La Liga with a convincing 3-1 defeat of Sevilla.

Goals from Gabriel Heinze, Raul and Gonzalo Higuain signalled a return to form for Bernd Schuster's side, who dispatched the visitors with an assured performance.

Madrid went ahead after eight minutes, when Heinze ghosted in to head home Wesley Sneijder's free-kick. It was the Argentine's first goal since his arrival from Manchester United, and the ideal tonic for a side suffering a crisis of confidence.

Belief quickly spread, and the league leaders were soon creating chances at will - scything through Sevilla in midfield and finding space all over the pitch.

On the half-hour mark Sergio Ramos sent Higuain clean through, but Andres Palop saved at his feet. Raul pounced to dispatch the loose ball, but Palop once again came to the visitor's rescue.

As Madrid spurned chance after chance, Sevilla slowly came into the game and duly punished the hosts with their first genuine opening after 37 minutes - Frederic Kanoute volleying home after Seydou Keita's flick-on.

For a moment Schuster must have feared the worst, but his team showed a resolve lacking in recent weeks and almost immediately resurrected their lead.

Sneijder was the architect - finding Raul in the box with his back to goal. The Madrid skipper controlled instinctively and fired home his 290th goal in all competitions.

With the second half came prolonged periods of dominance from Madrid, who but for an array of fine saves from Palop could have scored a hatful.

A deserved third finally arrived just after the hour mark, when Guti's pass gave Higuain the easiest of finishes.

The goal effectively ended the game as a contest, and Madrid played out the remainder of the game at half pace as Sevilla's threat faded.

Schuster was left to reflect on a job well done by his team - and a result which goes some way to silencing the doubters who circled after defeats to Deportivo and Valencia.

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Almeria 2-1 Levante

Midfielder Fernando Soriano put Almeria in front after two minutes when Levante goalkeeper Vladan Kujovic completely misjudged a cross.

Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo headed their second from a corner in the 36th minute.

Basement side Levante grabbed a consolation goal at the end when striker Iborra scored from the edge of the area.

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Deportivo La Coruna 3-1 Real Murcia

Enrique de Lucas headed relegation-threatened Murcia into the lead after only two minutes but Depor were always in control.

Home striker Xisco was set on his way to a hat-trick when a ball rebounded off him into the net in the 23rd, and two quickfire headers at the start of the second half made sure of the victory.

Depor's Felipe crashed a shot against the bar at the end.

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Getafe 0-2 Osasuna

King's Cup finalists Getafe were struggling from the 30th minute after Romanian defender Cosmin Contra was sent off, and Osasuna took advantage when defender Miguel Flano scored with a header from a free kick just before the break.

Midfielder Patxi Punal doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 69th minute.

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Espanyol 0-3 Racing Santander

Racing closed on the Champions League places with a confident display against Espanyol.

Oscar Serrano volleyed them in front after good work from Jorge Lopez in the 15th minute, and soon after Pedro Munitis netted from close range after Carlos Kameni failed to hold Aldo Duscher's shot at a corner.

Striker Ivan Bolado wrapped up the win shooting right-footed from behind his left leg, at the end.

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Recreativo Huelva 1-1 Athletic Bilbao

Recre caused Bilbao all sorts of problems from a succession of near post corners early on, and took the lead from one in the 15th minute when visiting defender Fernando Amorebieta nodded the ball over his own goalkeeper.

The home side wasted a host of chances to secure all three points and Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz grabbed a late equaliser after a misunderstanding in the Recre defence.

Recre had defender Iago Bouzon sent off in the last minute.

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Valencia 0-3 Real Mallorca

Copa del Rey finalists Valencia were caught cold by Mallorca as Spain striker Daniel Guiza was given time to score after a swift break in the 12th minute.

Defender Ivan Ramis curled in a free-kick to double the lead after 20 and Guiza stole in to head the third in the 57th.

Valencia have the joint worst home record in the league.

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Valladolid 2-1 Real Zaragoza

Diego Milito's knockdown for Alberto Zapater to score in the 29th minute put Zaragoza in control, but Valladolid came back to leave Manolo Villanova's side deep in relegation trouble.

The home side were awarded a dubious penalty in the 52nd minute which striker Victor put away, and their leading scorer Fernando Llorente struck his 14th of the campaign for the winner. Zaragoza had defender Juanfran sent off at the end.

Will Tidey / Reuters / Eurosport