Real Madrid ensured they end the year top of La Primera as they scored six at Sevilla for the second successive season, while things aren’t quite so rosy across the capital at Atletico.

SEVILLA 2-6 REAL MADRID

For the second successive season, Real Madrid went to Sevilla and scored six to reclaim top spot from Barcelona, who were busy adding another trophy to their cabinet in Japan.

Cristiano Ronaldo finished the first half of the season with his fifth hat-trick of the campaign, taking him up to 20 goals for the opening 16 league games. The fact they played the second half of the match with ten men seemed not to matter, as they had already wrapped up the points by the time Pepe picked up his second booking of the match, through a Ronaldo brace, either side of Jose Callejon’s strike.

Angel Di Maria made it four before Jesus Navas grabbed the first of Sevilla’s consolation goals. Sevilla then went down to ten themselves after Manu Del Moral was harshly dismissed, giving Real the relative easy task of adding a further two strikes, with Ronaldo securing his hat-trick from the penalty spot and Hamit Altintop opening his account for the club. Alvaro Negredo did pull another back for Sevilla in stoppage time, but there was no disguising another humbling for Sevilla.

VALENCIA 2-0 MALAGA

Valencia further cemented their position as the best of the rest, moving four points clear of Levante, and opening a nine point gap between themselves and Malaga, who were supposed to be giving them a run for their money this season.

The difference between the two is a goalscorer of real quality, with Valencia possessing the machine that is Roberto Soldado, who bagged his 10^th and 11^th of the season to ensure Valencia remain just that one step ahead of the remainder of the chasing pack.

OSASUNA 2-1 VILLARREAL

I often have to double check I haven’t got these teams the wrong way round, as Osasuna now sit in fifth, whilst Villarreal are in real danger down in 17^th.

The visitors had given themselves a chance of relieving some of the pressure placed upon them, as they took the lead through Marco Ruben after 64 minutes. But Osasuna are made of some pretty stern stuff this season and bounced back in the final 15 minutes, through strikes from Ibrahima Balde and Sergio Fernandez to give them real hope of qualifying for Europe.

ATLETICO MADRID 0-2 REAL BETIS

Betis have had a strange season – winning their opening four games before suffering eight defeats in their following ten games, and then securing back-to-back victories against La Liga giants Valencia and Atletico.

Atletico on the other hand are having yet another miserable season, and Gregorio Manzano’s reign over Los Rojiblancos is coming dangerously close to the end. A home defeat to struggling Betis could ensure he does not see out 2011, and will curse the names of Alejandro Pozuelo and Roque Santa Cruz if that prophecy comes to pass, as they secured Los Verdiblancos an important win that actually leaves the two sides level on points going into the winter break.

GRANADA 2-1 LEVANTE

That this comes a shock defeat says everything for Levante’s season so far, while fellow expected relegation fodder Granada end 2011 tied on points with Atletico and with a little bit of breathing space between themselves and the drop zone.

First half strikes from Guillherme Siqueira (penalty) and Abel Gomez ensured the home side secured a precious victory, with Arouna Kone’s headed effort on the hour mark proving to be only a consolation for Levante, who stay four points clear in fourth.

ATHLETIC BILBAO 2-1 REAL ZARAGOZA

After a dismal run of form in December, Athletic really needed the visit of bottom club Zaragoza in order to arrest their slump.

They still made hard work of the Segunda-bound outfit, requiring a late Gaizka Toquero strike in order to make the three points theirs. Markel Susaeta gave Athletic the lead after just seven minutes, but they suffered a double blow after 20 minutes, as Javi Martinez was sent off for a professional foul, allowing Leonardo Ponzio to convert the resulting penalty.

Athletic looked devoid of inspiration without Martinez and needed a little help as Maurizio Lanzaro evened up the teams by receiving his second booking after 70 minutes, giving the Basque side impetus to steal the victory with just three minutes remaining through Toquero.

SPORTING GIJON 1-2 ESPANYOL

Espanyol have remarkably improved their away record this season, with their third success on the road ensuring that they end 2011 still in the hunt for European qualification.

Sergio Garcia grabbed the winner with six minutes remaining, after David Barral had giving Sporting hope of claiming a precious point, equalising Thievy Bifouma’s early strike, meaning Espanyol sit just two points off sixth placed Sevilla.

MALLORCA 1-2 GETAFE

A first away win of the season ensured improving Getafe end the calendar year clear of the drop zone, and the third side to be tied on 19 points with Atletico.

They had to come from behind in order to achieve that, as Ivan Ramis capitalised on a goalkeeping error to put the Islanders in front after ten minutes. But coach Luis Garcia has finally got his charges responding to his ideals and Abdel Barrada proved to be the hero as his two goals before half-time proved to be enough to give Getafe a much-needed win and leapfrog Mallorca.

RACING SANTANDER 0-0 REAL SOCIEDAD

Both sides sit in deep trouble at the wrong end of the table for good reason, as this inspiration-less match justifiably ended in a goalless stalemate. Inigo Martinez also saw red for Sociedad nine minutes into the second half for a second bookable offence, but this was not enough to liven up a dull contest.