Espanyol fought their way back from a two-goal deficit to hold league leaders Real Madrid to a 2-2 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in the Spanish first division yesterday.
Real took the lead midway through the first half through a Luis Figo free-kick and then went 2-0 up a minute after the break when Raul headed home his 20th goal of the season.
But Espanyol fought back with a Pablo Rotchen header and a Constantin Galca penalty, given after a hand ball by Fernando Hierro. It was a double blow for Real as Hierro also got his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
The result saw Real extend their lead over second-placed Deportivo Coruna to six points with just four games remaining.
Real Mallorca consolidated their bid for a place in next season's Champions League with a 20 victory over in-form Celta Vigo.
Barcelona hit form and at long last gave their fans something to cheer about as they thumped Rayo Vallecano 5-1 at the Nou Camp.
Real Madrid coach Vicente Del Bosque decided to ring the changes following his team's exit from the European Cup at the hands of Bayern Munich.
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas and England's Steve McManaman were both consigned to the bench, their respective boots being filled by Cesar and Savio, while Ivan Campo replaced the suspended Roberto Carlos in defence.
Real pushed forward in search of an early goal and Figo gave them the lead in the 25th minute. The Portuguese international curled a 20-yard free-kick over the wall and past a static Espanyol goalkeeper Juan Luis Mora.
Raul notched his 20th goal of the season to make it 2-0 just a minute after the break. But only four minutes later Espanyol pulled a goal back as Pablo Rotchen got in front of Ivan Helguera and headed home a Gonzalez corner.
Espanyol had luck on their side when getting the equaliser. A Martin Possee cross ricocheted off the leg and on to the hand of Fernando Hierro who had slid in to block the ball. Referee Perez Burrull awarded the penalty and Romanian international Constantin Galca slotted past Cesar to make it 2-2.
Panamanian striker Dely Valdes notched a hat-trick as Malaga brought European Cup finalists Valencia back down to earth with a 3-0 victory.
After their mid-week exertions against Leeds United, Valencia seemed prepared to sit back and wait for Malaga to take the game to them. But it proved a very costly policy as Dely Valdes opened his account on 22 minutes with a spectacular overhead kick.
Six minutes before half-time he notched his second as he brushed the ball with his head after another Rufete corner. He completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot on 77 minutes after Gonzalo de Los Santos was pushed off the ball by Mauricio Pellegrino.
