There were few chances for either side, in a game conducted in a downpour, with perhaps the best falling to Osausna's Javier Flano whose shot skimmed the post 20 minutes from time.

Fredi Kanoute only appeared as a second half substitute 15 minutes from time, Sevilla coach Juande Ramos leaving the Spanish first division's top scorer on the bench to keep him fresh for Thursday's UEFA Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur.

Barcelona beat Deportivo La Coruna 2-1 on Saturday to continue to make the pace in La Liga with the Catalan club bidding for their third successive league title.

Second-half substitute Robinho again came to Real Madrid's rescue and headed the winner for the Spanish giants seven minutes from time in their 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo earlier on Sunday.

Real striker Gonzalo Higuain sent a pass across the area which Celta goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto could only punch away and the Brazilian was on hand to head home from the edge of the six yard box.

"A draw would have been fair. Both teams went out to win and neither of the two just went out to defend," admitted Real coach Fabio Capello.

Ruud van Nistlerooy opened the scoring for Real from the penalty spot after 27 minutes after Pinto had brought him down with a badly timed tackle.

Angel Lopez then brought Celta back level two minutes before the break, scoring from the right edge of the area after an outstanding back-heeled defence-splitting pass from Nene.

Celta, who are still just one place and one point above the relegation zone, pressed hard in the second half and only the brilliance of Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas denied them another goal.

"It was an open game. With a bit of luck, this will get me in the starting line-up," said Robinho, whose relationship with Real coach Fabio Capello has sometimes been strained.

The game ended on a sour note for Real with Jose Maria Gutierrez getting carelessly sent off after receiving two yellow cards in less than a minute in injury time.

The victory means Real remain third, five points behind bitter rivals Barca.

Racing Santander improved their chances of qualifying for European competition for the first time when they won 5-4 in a bizarre game with relegation-threatened Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

"I'm happy to have won but when your team concedes four goals you know, as a coach, that you haven't done your job," reflected a bemused Racing coach Miguel Angel Portugal.

"Well at least the fans had some fun and we can continue dreaming about Europe but we committed a lot of errors which we are going to have to sit down and analyse," added Portugal.

Athletic went ahead from a Luis Prieto free-kick after seven minutes but the fire works started in earnest after the break.

Eight second half goals, including five within a 12 minute period, were topped off by a winner from Racing's Nicola Zigic less than two minutes before the whistle.

The defeat leaves Athletic in deeper relegation trouble, third from bottom and the possibility looms ever larger that the historic Basque club will be relegated from the first division for the first time.

Bottom club Gimnastic Tarragona got a 1-1 draw with Recreativo Huelva but still remain at the foot of the Spanish first division.

Recreativo's Florent Sinama Pongolle opened the scoring after 10 minutes, chipping the ball over the head of Gimnastic's oncoming goalkeeper Albano Bizarri from the edge of the area.

However, Gimnastic were back on level terms within five minutes thanks to a blistering left foot shot from 20 metres by Javier Portillo.

Getafe came from two goals down to snatch a point in a 2-2 draw with fifth-placed Real Zaragoza.

Sergio Garcia put Zaragoza ahead midway through the first half and Andres D'Alessandro got one of the best goals of the season 10 minutes before the break, scoring from a wonderful free kick 35 metres out on the right wing.

Getafe replied through Manu Del Moral and Francisco Casquero.