Espanyol snatches point in Barcelona derby

Barcelona, Spain – Espanyol scored with just 4 minutes left, 1 draw in Barcelona derby on Sunday at the El Prat in La Liga.

Cesc Fabregas put Barca in front after just 16 minutes, but Alvaro directed a pass from Thievy Bifouma into the lower-left corner in the 86th minute to earn a share of the points.

Barca slipped five points off the pace of leader Real Madrid as it settled for its fifth draw this season, against 11 victories and just one defeat. Espanyol is eighth, level on points with Sevilla for seventh.

Barcelona was put under pressure Saturday, when Real Madrid extended its lead to six points with a 5-1 win over Granada.

Fabregas got Barca off to solid start, as he directed a cross from Dani Alves into the bottom right with a header from the middle of the area just after the 15-minute mark.

His ninth goal this season, second to Lionel Messi's 17 for team-high, was the difference until the closing minutes, when Espanyol snatched a point as Alvaro headed home from close range.

Villarreal 2, Valencia 2

Villarreal, Spain - Aritz Aduriz scored in the 87th minute as Valencia rallied from two goals behind to draw Villarreal, 2-2, on Sunday in La Liga at the El Madrigal.

Marco Ruben and Gonzalo both scored inside 18 minutes for Villarreal, but the team's struggles continued as Sofiane Feghouli pulled a goal back before half, and Aduriz added the late equalizer for Valencia.

While Valencia used the point to solidify third place in La Liga behind giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, Villarreal remained stuck in the relegation zone.

Villarreal has just three wins through 17 matches, and is just six points off the foot of the standings as its winless skid reached five games.

Rayo Vallecano 2, Sevilla 1

Madrid, Spain - Michu and Raul Tamudo scored as Rayo Vallecano edged Sevilla, 2-1, on Sunday at Teresa Rivero to snap a four-match losing streak and a five- game winless skid in La Liga.

Michu opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, and Tamudo followed just 5 minutes after half to give Vallecano a two-goal lead. Julien Escude pulled a goal back for Sevilla in the 62nd.

Vallecano moved four points above the relegation zone, while Sevilla continued to lose sight of the Champions League places after its third straight loss.

Sevilla has just 24 points from 17 matches and is 19 points behind first-place Real Madrid.

Real Betis 2, Sporting Gijon 0

Seville, Spain - Roque Santa Cruz and Jorge Molina scored as Real Betis downed nine-man Sporting Gijon, 2-0, on Sunday at the Benito Villamarin for its third straight win in La Liga.

Santa Cruz started the scoring after 22 minutes, and Gijon had Alberto Ramos sent off 3 minutes before halftime. Molina added the clinching goal in second- half stoppage time, and Gonzalez Carmelo earned an early exit minutes later.

Betis began the season with four straight wins, but then went on a 10-game run without a win - including nine losses. However, with the win over Gijon, Betis has returned to the top half of the table in 10th.

Gijon lost for the fourth time in its last five and is 19th, just five points out of last place

Getafe 0, Athletic Bilbao 0

Getafe, Spain - Athletic Bilbao earned a 0-0 draw Sunday against Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, as it moved its La Liga unbeaten streak to four games.

Bilbao's Markel Susaeta and Getafe's Miku each found the frame in the match as both sides came close to sealing all three points.

Getafe had won its last two matches prior to Spain's short winter break and is undefeated in three straight bridging the New Year.

Both clubs sit mid-table after 17 matches.