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Five-star Valencia soar to the top
MADRID, Spain -- Valencia ousted Real Madrid as leaders of the Spanish Liga with a 5-0 demolition of 10-man Mallorca. Mallorca's miserable evening began with defender Fernando Nino being sent off for a foul in the area on Brazilian striker Ricardo Oliveira after just two minutes. Jorge Lopez converted the penalty while Oliveira went on to complete a hat-trick. In other matches, Barcelona and Real Sociedad drew 3-3 while Atletico Madrid earned their fourth straight win, 2-1 against Real Betis. Valencia took just five minutes to double their lead when Oliveira took full advantage of a pass by Argentine midfielder Pablo Aimar which pierced Mallorca's defense. Oliveira added Valencia's third on the stroke of halftime when he burst through Mallorca's defense and chipped goalkeeper Leo Franco. The Brazilian completed his hat-trick on 76 minutes with an unmarked header at the far post and substitute Xisco Munoz seized on a long ball from Italian defender Amedeo Carboni with two minutes remaining to crown Valencia's easy victory. Valencia, who have 23 points from 10 games, rise above Real Madrid on goal difference. Real beat Athletic Bilbao on Saturday. Barcelona opened the scoring at Sociedad when midfielder Thiago Motta headed home a free kick from fellow Brazilian Ronaldinho on 34 minutes. But Sociedad levelled with Igor Jauregi's header on 56 minutes and took the lead three minutes later when Javi de Pedro scored from the penalty spot after Motta was penalized for shirt pulling. Substitute Marc Overmars equalized for Barca five minutes later, only for Valery Karpin to restore the home side's lead three minutes later with a flying header. Barcelona also had Motta sent off for protesting, but defender Gabri Garcia came to their rescue on 81 minutes when he caught goalkeeper Sander Westerveld off his line. Atletico Madrid teenager Fernando Torres took his tally for the season to seven with both goals in a come-from-behind win at Betis. The home side had taken the lead with a trademark freekick from Brazilian midfielder Marcos Assuncao, but Torres tied the match with a spectacular volley just before halftime. Five minutes after the break he grabbed the winner from the penalty spot after Greek striker Demis Kikolaidis had been fouled in the area. In Sunday's other games, Zaragoza won 2-0 at last-placed Espanyol, Malaga beat Sevilla 2-0, Valladolid beat Albacete 2-0 and Villarreal won 1-0 against Osasuna.
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