Atletico enjoy home comforts, Betis win

Barcelona's closest challengers Atletico Madrid maintained some pressure on the leaders with a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Real Zaragoza - their tenth win in ten games at the Vicente Calderon. After a dominant opening spell, Tiago eventually headed Atleti in front on the half-hour mark as he rose highest to nod home Gabi's corner. Radamel Falcao then added the second from the penalty spot seven minutes before the break after Arda Turan was brought down by Cristian Sapunaru. Despite failing to build on their advantage, the hosts comfortably saw out the second period without any major scares to go seven points clear of third-placed Real Madrid. Real Betis boosted their European hopes as goals from Joel Campbell and Ruben Castro handed them a comfortable 2-0 win over Levante. Campbell opened the scoring after just seven minutes as he swept home Castro's pass at the end of a flowing counter-attack for just his second Betis goal. Roger had two decent chances to draw Levante level minutes before and after the break, but he failed to make a proper connection with either attempt and Castro gave the hosts the cushion they needed with a brilliant turn and finish 27 minutes from time. Relegation-battling Deportivo La Coruna held on for the final 26 minutes with a man less to earn a 1-1 draw from their trip to Real Sociedad. Depor took a 27th-minute through Luis Pizzi but then found themselves on the back foot after conceding an equaliser to Carlos Vela on the stroke of half-time and then losing defender Evaldo to a red card just after the hour-mark. However, Sociedad could not make the most of their numerical advantage in the closing stages as Depor made it four points from two games under new coach Domingos Paciencia. From FIFA