La Liga : Raul celebrated his 500th league appearance

Mallorca 0 - 3 Real Madrid

Real Madrid captain Raul celebrated his 500th league appearance in the famous white shirt with a goal as the champions climbed to second with a comfortable 3-0 win at Real Mallorca on Sunday.

Incredibly it was Real's first away win in the league since 18 October and the capital giants are now nine points behind tabletoppers Barcelona who have a game in hand. Arjen Robben opened the scoring as early as the third minute before Raul, 31, struck on 17 minutes with his seventh goal of the campaign and Sergio Ramos netted a third in the second half.

For Real, Dutch forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who made his debut last weekend, was dropped to the bench with Gonzalo Higuain, back from a bout of tonsilitis, partnering Raul in attack. Higuain had an immediate impact, lofting a third minute pass to Robben who was just onside as he raced clear before slotting home to score for the second consecutive game.

Higuain was the provider again on 17 minutes powering down the right flank before fizzing in a cross that Raul flicked in with his trailing leg. Just before the interval the Mallorca players were up in arms at not being awarded a penalty when Pepe appeared to use his hand to block a shot but the referee waved play on.

Ramos volleyed in a third on 66 minutes and Real kept a third successive clean sheet to suggest things are improving under new manager Juande Ramos. Frontrunners Barcelona can move 12 points clear of Real again when they face basement side Osasuna later on Sunday.

Mallorca 0 - 3 Real Madrid Highlights

Osasuna 2 - 3 Barcelona

Lionel Messi scored a thunderous 84th-minute winner as leaders Barcelona came back to overcome bottom side Osasuna 3-2 on Sunday and restore their 12-point cushion over second-placed Real Madrid.

It was all going to plan for Barcelona when Messi set up Samuel Eto'o to score just before the break but Miguel Flaño turned in a corner to equalise not long after the hour mark and ten minutes later Walter Pandiani seemed to have put the visitors' 16-game unbeaten Liga run in jeopardy.

However, on his 300th league appearance Xavi turned in a Daniel Alves cross and with five minutes left Messi's superb finish sealed the win.

Full results;

January 10
Deportivo La Coruna 1 - 3 Sevilla
Valencia 3 - 3 Villarreal

January 11
Atletico Madrid 2 - 3 Athletic Bilbao
Mallorca 0 - 3 Real Madrid
Numancia 2 - 0 Getafe
Racing Santander 1 - 1 Recreativo Huelva
Real Betis 1 - 2 Malaga
Sporting Gijon 2 - 1 Valladolid
Espanyol 2 - 2 Almeria
Osasuna 2 - 3 Barcelona