Deportivo put pressure on leaders
MADRID, Spain (Reuters) -- Deportivo Coruna made up ground at the top of the Primera Liga with a crushing 4-1 win at home to Real Zaragoza.
Ronaldo saved Real Madrid from a second successive defeat with an equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Betis, but they missed a chance to go top.
Valencia remain a point clear from Real with Depor third a further three points adrift.
Deportivo had to come from a goal down to claim the victory after midfielder Juan Carlos Valeron had bundled into his own net after five minutes.
But the Spanish international atoned for his early error with a second-half goal. Diego Tristan adding two others and Sergio wrapping up the win.
Valeron had a hand in Tristan's equalizer midway through the first half and then put his side ahead with a fine glancing header.
Tristan completed his double when he got his head to an Albert Luque cross in the 76th minute. Midfielder Sergio wrapped up an easy win over their relegation-threatened opponents when he completed a counter-attack four minutes from time.
Ronaldo's saver for Real was his15th goal of the season and it came after Betis had dominated.
The Brazilian striker took full advantage of one of the few occasions when he received the ball in space to shimmy his way past Betis keeper Pedro Contreras and clip in from a tight angle to cancel out Joaquin's first-half volley.
Atletico Madrid retained the fourth Champions League slot after extending their unbeaten run to six matches with a fiercely disputed 2-1 win over Sevilla at the Calderon.
Fernando Torres notched his 12th goal of the season three minutes before the break and Greek strike partner Demis Nikolaidis added a second with a brave header on 71 minutes.
But Atletico had to endure a nervous final quarter after Jose Antonio Reyes pulled one back with a penalty awarded for a foul on striker German Hornos.
Real Sociedad, who beat Real Madrid last week, continued their revival with a 3-1 victory at home to lowly Espanyol.
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