SANTANDER, Apr 9 (SW) - Barcelona had to come from a goal down to earn a draw in a thrilling first half against Racing Santander while Osasuna moved to with in a point of an automatic spot of the Champions with a win over Alavés.

Racing Santander - Barcelona 2-2

Henrik Larsson opened the scoring for the La Liga leaders in the 18th minute, but Antonito equalized for the home side less than 60 seconds later, much to the delight of the supporters at El Sardinero.

Oscar Serrano fired Racing into a surprise lead in the 23rd minute, but this time Barça answered with an equalizer through Samuel Eto'o in the 33rd minute.

The second half didn't bring near the action of the first half, although Barcelona did have Carles Puyol sent off late for his second yellow card of the match.

Alavés - Osasuna 1-2

Osasuna's Pierre Webo gave the visitors the lead on 15 minutes off of a free kick sequence, and another set piece led to Osasuna's second in the 55th minute as Savo Milosevic got his head to a free kick.

The visitors were then reduced to ten men as Miguel Flano was dismissed for handling in the penalty area, but John Aloisi failed to convert from the spot. Rodolfo Bopito scored a consolation goal late for Alavés.

Osasuna are now within a point of Valencia and Real Madrid for the final automatic spot in the Champions League.

Villarreal - Deportivo La Coruña 1-1

Mexican striker Guillermo Franco salvaged a point for Champions League semi-finalists Villarreal as they were held to a draw at home by Deportivo.

The Galicians struck in the 71st minute through Sérgio to take the lead, but Franco equalized just three minutes later to keep them in eighth place in La Liga.

Sevilla - Zaragoza 1-1

UEFA Cup semi-finalists Sevilla came from a goal behind late on to snatch a draw at home against Zaragoza on Sunday.

Sérgio García volleyed Zaragoza into the lead just after the second-half restart, but Enzo Maresca's header in the dying moments rescued a point for Sevilla.

Espanyol - Atlético Madrid 1-1

Espanyol are now two points clear of the relegation zone, a late equalizer giving the Catalans a draw at home against Atlético.

Gabi fired home for the capital city side early in the second half, but Walter Pandiani headed in Raúl Tamudo's cross in the 83rd minute to snatch a big point for Espanyol.

Athletic Bilbao - Mallorca 1-1

Two sides in the thick of the relegation battle met on Sunday at San Mamés as Athletic and Mallorca played a draw, keeping both sides in sight of the drop zone.

Francisco Yeste's goal inside the first two minutes gave Bilbao - who have never been relegated in their history - a lead, but Juan Arango's 24th-minute goal rescued a point for Mallorca, who are one point out of the bottom three. Athletic are three points in the safety zone.