VALENCIA, Apr 30 (SW) - Valencia defeated Alavés 3-0 on Sunday to maintain their second place in the Primera División, while Real Madrid needed only one goal to beat Osasuna.

Valencia - Alavés 3-0

Valencia were never really troubled by Alavés at Mestalla stadium. Ruben Baraja opened the score after 23 minutes, and Argentinian playmaker Pablo Aimar doubled the lead nine minutes later.

The third and last goal came from club topscorer David Villa, who converted a spotkick in the 50th minute.

Osasuna - Real Madrid 0-1

Julio Baptista was brought down in Osasuna's area and the victim himself then scored from the penalty spot in the 51st minute.

Osasuna were also given a penalty in the 63rd minute, but captain Puñal failed to level the score as goalkeeper Iker Casillas saved.

Casillas was again the center of attention in the 81st minute. The 'keeper kicked away the ball while Osasuna had a throw-in, and earned his second yellow card.

Valencia are second with 68 points, Madrid follow with 66 and Osasuna are fourth with 62 points and cannot even be certain of that position as Celta only have two points less.

Real Sociedad - Sevilla 1-2

UEFA Cup finalists Sevilla are close to securing their spot in next year's edition of that tournament. Goals from Jesus Navas and Jose Luis Marti (penalty) gave the Andalucians a safe lead in the second half, and Gari Uranga's 86th-minute goal for Sociedad could not change anything.

The Basques had two players sent off: Aitor Lopez Rekarte in the 68th minute, and Nihat Kahveci in the 84th.

Getafe - Villarreal 1-1

Villarreal may have to miss out on European football next season, after a 1-1 draw at Getafe. The hosts took the lead through Jaime Gavilan in the very first minute but their opponents levelled just two minutes later, with a goal from Guillermo Franco.

Atletico de Madrid - Mallorca 0-1

Mallorca's win at Atletico took the islanders to the safer regions of the table. The only goal of the match came from Jonas in the 79th minute.

Zaragoza - Espanyol 1-1

Zaragoza and Espanyol held each other to a 1-1 draw, with Ewerthon opening the score for the home side in the ninth minute and Daniel Jarque equalizing in the 66th.

Espanyol's goalscorer would not see the end of the match, as result of a red card in stoppage time.

Malaga - Racing Santander 2-3

Francisco Javier Casquero put Racing in the lead after 17 minute, but Ruano Alexis turned things around with goals in the 25th and 30th minute.

Racing did not give up however and equalized through Antonito in the 52nd minute, and Juanjo got the winning goal for the guests in the 79th.