Ronaldinho sent off after scoring
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VALLADOLID, Spain -- Ronaldinho scored a 31st minute goal but was later sent off as Barcelona won 3-1 at lowly Valladolid.
Barcelona's 10th win in 11 outings sent them into third place in the table, two points ahead of Deportivo but seven adrift of second club Valencia.
First-half goals from South Americans Javier Saviola and Ronaldinho put Barca in charge but after Ronaldinho's dismissal they struggled to stay on top.
The Brazilian star had already been booked for refusing to retreat the full ten metres from a free-kick and then received his second yellow card in the 55th minute when he tried to kick the ball out of the hands of Valladolid goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri.
Promising local youngster Oscar Gonzalez pulled a goal back for the hosts in the 65th minute and Valladolid then lay siege to the Barca goal.
Frank Rijkaard's patched-up defense - without Carles Puyol, Rafael Marquez and Giovanni Van Bronckhorst - managed to hold firm and five minutes from time substitute Andres Iniesta made it 3-1.
"This was an important win for us", said a relieved Rijkaard afterwards. "This keeps alive our chances of snatching second place...or even of battling for the league title."
Malaga beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 in a battle of UEFA Cup hopefuls.
Uruguayan international Diego Alonso scored two of the goals in the 45th and 50th minute after Ivan Leko had put them in front after 31 minutes.
Atletico then hadFernando Torres sent off and he will miss next week's derby against city rivals Real.
