体坛英语新闻：Primera Liga review

MADRID, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona kept in touch with Real Madrid thanks to a hard-fought 4-2 win over Real Betis on matchday 17 of the Spanish Primera Liga.

Goals from Xavi Hernandez, making his 400th league appearance for Barca, and Leo Messi looked to have given a comfortable lead after just 13 days, but a fine fightback from Betis saw Ruben Castro pull a goal back before half-time.

It was the first goal Barca had conceded at home in the league all season.

With the visitors playing fine football, Roque Santa-Cruz stunned the Camp Nou with an equalizing goal on the hour, but that only provoked an avalanche of attacking football from Barca, who sealed the win with goal from Alexis Sanchez and a Messi penalty.

New Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone was able to enjoy a comfortable home debut as his side brushed struggling Villarreal aside in the Vicente Calderon.

Two goals from Radamal Falcao, the second a penalty mistakenly given for a foul outside of the Villarreal area and a late strike from Deigo gave Atletico an easy win against a rival that put up virtually no resistance and managed just two shots, neither of which was on target, all game.

Christian Stauni scored twice as Racing Santander continued their climb away from the relegation zone with a 2-0 win away to Osasuna. It was Osasuna's first home defeat of the season and Racing's first away win.

Athletic Club Bilbao climbed into the top six with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to fourth placed Levante. Header goals from Fernando Amorebieta, Fernando Llorente and Mikel San Jose gave the home side the points.

The win put Athletic in fifth place in the table thanks partly to Malaga's 2-1 defeat away to Sporting Gijon.

A 92nd minute goal from Oscar Trejo gave Sporting a vital win after a dramatic game. Alejandro Galvez put Sporting ahead before halftime, but a goal from Ruud Van Nistelrooy three minutes from time looked to have broken Sporting hearts, when in the end all his goal did was to set up a dramatic finish to the match.

Saturday night saw Real Madrid fight back from a goal down away to Mallorca to win 2-1 and maintain their lead at the top of the BBVA Primera Liga on Saturday night.

Mallorca opened the scoring from a header by Tomer Hemed and for a while it looked as if they could hold on against a below par Madrid in the second period in a controversial game.

The home side could have been given a penalty for a foul on Victor and later saw a perfectly legal goal ruled out for a non-existent offside before Gonzalo Higuain drew Madrid level after 72 minutes.

Jose Callejon scored the winning goal five minutes from time with a miss-hit shot from outside of the penalty area after a sustained Madrid attack.

Third placed Valencia suffered the shock of the week when they lost 1-0 at home to Real Sociedad. The win was a good recovery for Real Sociedad, who had lost 6-1 in Mallorca in midweek.

Antoine Griezmann's second half goal, which came after he had handled the ball, was enough to give the Basques the victory and lift them into mid-table.

Saturday had kicked off with a 0-0 draw between seventh placed Sevilla and eighth place Espanyol, while Zaragoza remain rock bottom of the table after a 1-1 draw at home to Getafe.

Mauricio Lanzaro put Zaragoza ahead with a powerful header, but an own goal from Javier Paredes saw the visitors take a share of the points.

Menawhile Rayo Vallecano put Granada into deep trouble with a 2-1 away win in the Las Carmines Stadium. Michu and Piti put the visitors 2-0 ahead before Fran Rico scored a late consolation goal for Granada.