SPANISH PRIMERA LIGA: A goal from captain Raul allowed Real Madrid to take a 1-0 win against Valencia at the Mestalla last night.

Valencia dominated for long periods of an intense encounter but they paid the price for some profligate finishing while the visitors took full advantage of one of their rare attacks.

Raul steered home from eight metres out after Roberto Carlos had cut back a neat pass from the byline seven minutes into the second half.

Winger David Silva tormented Michel Salgado on the left throughout but Valencia's strike power was undermined when David Villa, who suffered a thigh strain in Wednesday's 2-0 Champions League win over Olympiakos, limped off after 15 minutes. With fellow striker Fernando Morientes also nursing a thigh injury, Valencia coach Quique Sanchez Flores decided to keep the former Real Madrid striker on the bench.

Real are in third place and just three points behind leaders Barcelona who crushed Villarreal 4-0 on Saturday.

Brazilian forward Ronaldinho opened the scoring with a penalty and wrapped up with a sublime overhead kick three minutes from time. Eidur Gudjohnsen and Andres Iniesta scored the other Barcelona goals.

Luis Fabiano scored twice as second-placed Sevilla beat Athletic Bilbao last night.

Sevilla made a flying start at San Mames when Fabiano powered in a bullet header in the fifth minute after Frederic Kanoute curled in a fine cross from the right.

Marti doubled the lead with a fluke goal six minutes later when his over-hit free kick from the left looped over goalkeeper Inaki Lafuente.

Bilbao pulled one back through striker Aritz Aduriz 21 minutes from time before Luis Fabiano made it 3-1 by capping a devastating counter attack with another cool finish.

Real Zaragoza missed a chance to keep the pressure on the leading trio when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Celta Vigo yesterday and are now three points adrift of Real in fourth spot.