PAMPLONA, Mar 12 (SW) - FC Barcelona crashed to a defeat at Osasuna, who close in on Valencia's third place. Sunday's fixtures had no less than nine players sent off with red cards.

Osasuna - FC Barcelona 2-1

FC Barcelona failed to extend their lead over Real Madrid and Valencia, and were instead beaten by Osasuna. Valdo opened the score after 21 minutes, and Edmilson caused a penalty in the 58th minute, for which he was sent off.

The penalty was converted by Francisco Punal, giving Osasuna a comfortable lead. Henrik Larsson scored back for Barcelona in the 70th minute but the Blaugrana could not do anything more. Thiago Motta was Barça's second to be expulsed, in the 90th minute.

Alaves - Sevilla 2-1

Javier Saviola put Sevilla in the lead after ten minutes, but teammate Aitor Ocio was sent off in the 18th. Alaves took advantage and turned things around through Nene in the 25th minute and Rodolfo Bopido in the 45th.

Alaves won win despite ending the match with only nine players on the pitch, as Bopido was red-carded in the 86th minute, followed by Juanito in the 89th.

Mallorca - Villarreal 1-1

Mallorca and Villarreal held each other to a 1-1 draw in Palma de Mallorca. The hosts needed less than a minute to open the score through Guillermo Pereyra, but Jose Mari levelled for the guests in the 23rd minute.

Atletico de Madrid - Racing Santander 2-1

Atletico de Madrid had Fernando Torres converting a penalty kick in the 65th minute, but Abella Damia levelled the score in the 71st. Atletico would get a winning goal however, from Pablo Ibanez Tebar in the 74th minute. The hosts had Gabi sent off in stoppage time.

Zaragoza - Getafe 1-2

Argentinian Diego Militi put Zaragoza ahead after 32 minutes, but Veljko Paunovic equalized in the 39th. Alvaro was sent for an early shower in the 50th minute, leaving Zaragoza with only ten players. Paunovic took advantage and got the winning goal on the hour mark.

Athletic de Bilbao - Cadiz 1-0

The only goal at the match between Athletic and Cadiz came in stoppage time, when Andoni Iraola converted a penalty for the hosts. Fernando Amorebieta was sent off for Bilbao in the 18th minute, and Alejandro Varela followed for Cadiz in the 90th.

Real Betis - Malaga 1-1

No red cards, but six yellow cards at Real Betis versus Malaga. The 1-1 final score helped neither, as both sides are currently struggling against relegation. David Rivas got the opening goal for Betis in the 21st minute, and Antonio Hidalgo levelled in the 73rd.