Deportivo power to top of Primera
MADRID, Spain (Reuters) -- Walter Pandiani continued his run of scoring in every game this season as Deportivo Coruna returned to the top of the Primera Liga with a 5-1 win at home to Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Fran gave Depor the lead after six minutes but Atletico hit back with a header from defender Matias Lequi five minutes later.
The home side regained the lead 10 minutes before the break with a deflected Lequi shot. Sergio, Pandiani and Lionel Scaloni scored in the second half.
Pandiani, who returned to Depor this season after a loan spell at Real Mallorca to make up for the absence of Roy Makaay, fired in his sixth league goal of the season after 57 minutes.
Deportivo's comfortable victory gave them 15 points from six games and took them two points clear of Valencia, who can reclaim top spot if they win away at Barcelona on Sunday.
Villarreal missed a chance to move into the top three as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Real Zaragoza. That result kept them in fifth place with 10 points.
Real Betis, who are sixth, salvaged a deserved point with a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao after their Brazilian winger Assuncao scored with less than a minute of normal time left.
Betis had dominated the first half but Athletic had earlier gone ahead a few seconds after half time, when a denfensive mix up by Betis allowed the ball to run free in their own area.
Athletic striker Tiko Martinez was unmarked and on hand to sidefoot the ball into the net for his third goal of the season.
Real Madrid, also with 10 points but in third place ahead of Osasuna and Villarreal on goal difference, are at home to Espanyol on Sunday. Osasuna are also in action on Sunday, away to Real Mallorca.
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