Valencia crowned winter champions
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Valencia took the lead after nine minutes
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MADRID, Spain -- Valencia claimed top spot in Spain's Primera Liga and the unofficial title of "winter champions" as Real Madrid slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Real Sociedad.
Valencia won 1-0 at Albacete, with Jorge Lopez on target from the penalty spot when Pablo Aimar controversially went down on the edge of the box.
Valery Karpin struck in the second half as Sociedad, last season's runners-up, inflicted the defending champions' third defeat of the season.
Sociedad were rewarded for their hard-working performance on 64 minutes when Madrid keeper Iker Casillas dropped Nihat Kahveci's cross and Russian winger Karpin drive the loose ball into the net.
The Basque side, struggling in the bottom half of the table this season, almost scored again 10 minutes from time when a header from Darko Kovacevic bounced back off the post.
Albacete defender Francisco Pena barely seemed to touch Aimar as Valencia's Argentine playmaker earned his side's penalty after just nine minutes.
"As far as I'm concerned, it was a penalty," said Valencia coach Rafa Benitez.
"Even though Albacete were always dangerous we had the better chances."
Valencia's victory lifted them one point clear of Madrid at the season's halfway point. Third place Deportivo Coruna, who face Santander on Sunday, are a further six points behind.
In Saturday's other match, Celta Vigo picked up their sixth win of the season, 4-2 at Real Mallorca.
Jose Igancio Saenz, Jesuli, Peter Luccin and Savo Milosevic scored for the visitors, canceling out Arnold Bruggink's two first half goals for Mallorca.
