Real Sociedad slide into drop zone
MADRID, Spain (Reuters) -- Real Sociedad slipped further into relegation danger on Saturday when they were beaten 3-1 at home to Valladolid.
Sociedad, Primera runners-up to Real Madrid last term, crashed to an eighth defeat of the season, leaving them 18th.
At the other end of the table, Valencia went back to the top after defeating Sevilla 1-0 on Saturday.
Real Sociedad, through to the second round of the Champions League but in increasing trouble on the domestic front, started well against Valladolid, taking the lead through Turkish international forward Nihat Kahveci after five minutes.
Valladolid equalized on the half-hour through Ariza Makukula and took the lead in the 72nd minute when Oscar finished off a swift break from defence.
Valladolid wrapped up victory with a Roberto Losada goal four minutes from time and Sociedad's night went from bad to worse when they had defender Agustin Aranzabal sent off in injury-time.
Unimpressive Valencia
Mista Ferrer scored Valencia's only goal, exactly on the hour, of a turgid match that gave the strong impression that both sides wanted to exert as little effort as possible and start their Christmas holidays without any undue delay.
Ferrer leapt high above a packed Sevilla defence to nod home his ninth goal of the season.
Otherwise, the match was a catalogue of lazy passing and poor finishing with the usually impeccable Pablo Aimar being one of the worst offenders.
Real Madrid, one point adrift, can go top again with a win at Real Mallorca on Sunday.
Atletico Madrid had a disappointing home result, as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Racing Santander in Saturday's other match at the Calderon.
Atletico led 2-1 with 10 minutes to go after Veljko Paunovic and Kizito Musampa had both struck on the rebound in response to Sergio Matabuena's scrappy opener, but Racing clinched a point when Jonathan scored from the penalty spot.
The result left Atletico in fifth place, behind Osasuna in the fourth Champions League qualification slot on goal difference.
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