San Sebastian, Jun 02: Spain's league leaders Real Sociedad could only manage a 1-1 draw against Valencia and failed to open a three point gap over title rivals Real Madrid. Valencia held league leaders Real Sociedad to a 1-1 draw at Anoeta on Sunday (June 01) to leave the Spanish title race finely poised with two games left to play. Sociedad, bidding to stretch their lead at the top to three points, took the lead through Xabi Alonso on 35 minutes but an Anthony Reveillere strike levelled the score almost immediately and eventually proved enough to give Valencia a point. A draw restored Sociedad's one-point lead over Real Madrid, who were also held to a home draw, 1-1 against Celta Vigo on Saturday (May 31). After 36 games, Sociedad lead the standings on 73 points, followed by Real Madrid on 72. Deportivo kept their faint title hopes alive with a 3-2 win at home to Atletico Madrid that kept them in third place on 69 points.


While the championship battle is likely to go down to the wire, the relegation places were resolved on Sunday, with Rayo Vallecano, Recreativo Huelva and Alaves losing their first division status.


In the race for the final UEFA Cup place on offer, victories for Sevilla and Barcelona put increased pressure on Athletic Bilbao, who are now holding on to sixth place by just two points after a 1-1 draw at Villarreal.


Results of Spanish first division soccer matches played on Sunday: Alaves 0 Real Betis 1 Barcelona 2 Malaga 1 Deportivo Coruna 3 Atletico Madrid 2 Racing Santander 5 Espanyol 2 Real Mallorca 1 Rayo Vallecano 1 Real Sociedad 1 Valencia 1 Sevilla 1 Recreativo Huelva 0 Valladolid 0 Osasuna 2 Villarreal 1 Athletic Bilbao 1


Played Saturday: Real Madrid 1 Celta Vigo 1


Standings after Sunday (June 1): P W D L F A Pts 1. Real Sociedad 36 21 10 5 66 42 73 2. Real Madrid 36 20 12 4 79 41 72 3. Deportivo Coruna 36 21 6 9 63 43 69 4. Celta Vigo 36 16 10 10 42 32 58 5. Valencia 36 16 9 11 52 32 57 6. Athletic Bilbao 36 14 10 12 59 56 52 7. Sevilla 36 13 11 12 36 33 50 8. Barcelona 36 13 11 12 58 46 50 9. Real Mallorca 36 13 9 14 47 55 48 10. Real Betis 36 12 12 12 48 50 48 11. Atletico Madrid 36 12 11 13 51 49 47 12. Racing Santander 36 13 5 18 50 57 44 13. Villarreal 36 11 11 14 41 47 44 14. Malaga 36 10 13 13 41 46 43 15. Espanyol 36 10 12 14 45 50 42 16. Valladolid 36 11 9 16 34 39 42 17. Osasuna 36 10 11 15 33 44 41 18. Alaves 36 8 10 18 35 63 34 - relegated 19. Recreativo Huelva 36 8 10 18 34 60 34 - relegated 20. Rayo Vallecano 36 7 10 19 31 60 31 - relegated Note: teams on same points are ranked according to head-to-head results and then goal difference.


Bureau Report