BARCELONA, Jan 22 (SW) - FC Barcelona defeated Alavés to extend their lead in the Primera División, as Osasuna were defeated at Villarreal. Valencia took advantage and move into second place.

FC Barcelona - Alavés 2-0

Defending champions Barcelona needed until the 47th minute to open the score through Swedish striker Henrik Larsson, who played instead of Samuel Eto'o; the Cameroonian is currently playing for his national side at the African Cup of Nations.

Argentinian forward Lionel Messi added a second goal with eight minutes to go, with which Barcelona easily maintain their comfortable lead in the Liga.

Real Betis - Valencia 0-2

Valencia moved into second place with a 0-2 win at Betis in Sevilla. Both goals were scored by David Villa, in the 35th and 78th minutes.

Villarreal - Osasuna 2-1

Osasuna crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Villarreal and dropped to third position. The season revelations did take the lead through Raul Garcia in the 28th minute, but gave away two penalties in the 70th and 77th minutes. Both were converted by Juan Roman Riquelme.

Deportivo la Coruña - Real Mallorca 2-2

Deportivo took a safe lead with goals from Juan Carlos Valeron in the 18th minute and Diego Tristán in the 26th, but the visiting side found their way back through Yoshito Okubo in the 50th minute and Juan Fernando Arango in the 54th.

Malaga - Celta de Vigo 0-2

Celta took the lead with a goal from Antonio Nuñez in the 47th minute, and David Silva added a second in the 70th.

Racing de Santander - Sevilla 2-3

Frederic Kanoute's 13th-minute goal was cancelled out by Racing's Juanjo in the 44th. However, Sevilla's lead was restored by a converted penalty from Enzo Maresca in the 48th minute, and the same player scored from another spotkick six minutes later. Felipo Melo got one back for the hosts in the 85th minute.

Getafe - Espanyol 5-0

Getafe easily defeated Espanyol in the Spanish capital, with two goals from Daniel Guiza, two from Mario Andres Pernia and one from Jaime Gavilan.

Real Sociedad - Athletic de Bilbao 3-3

The Basque derby between Real Sociedad and Athletic de Bilbao ended with a 3-3 draw as result. Nihat Kahveci gave the home side a 2-0 lead but Aritz Aduriz scored two goals in the second half to level the score. Morten Skoubo put Sociedad back in the lead in the 69th minute, but Andoni Iraola earned the guests a point in stoppage time.