Falcao on target as Atletico win

Radamel Falcao hit his 10th league goal of the season as Atletico Madrid beat Osasuna 3-1 on Sunday to stay level on points with leaders Barcelona at the top of Spain’s Primera Division.

The Catalan side had piled on the pressure at the top of by winning 5-0 at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, but Atletico were always the better side in the Vicente Calderon where they recorded a 12th consecutive victory in all competitions.

Joao Miranda, with a glancing header, and a Raul Garcia strike gave the home side a two-goal advantage after 35 minutes before Roland Lamah pulled one back for Osasuna, who stay bottom of the table, just before half-time.

Falcao finished off any threat Osasuna posed on 73 minutes when he turned in a Juanfran cross for an incredible 17 goals in 11 consecutive games in all competitions.

Also on Sunday, Getafe won 2-1 at Athletic Bilbao and there were home wins for Zaragoza and Levante.

Juan Rodriguez and Alvaro Vazquez, with a scissor kick, got a goal in each half for Getafe in Bilbao against an out of sorts Athletic, for who Mikel San Jose got a last minute reply.

The result leaves the Basque side just one point above the relegation zone in 17th position while Getafe comfortably move into eighth on 13 points.

Levante beat Granada 3-1 to go fifth with two goals from ex-Newcastle player Obafemi Martins and a Pedro Rios strike, Youssef El Arabi got a late consolation for the visitors.

Portuguese striker Hector Postiga and Romanian full-back Cristian Sapunaru got the goals for Zaragoza in a 2-1 win over Sevilla.