Aimar fires Valencia to win, Real Madrid held

Valencia's Argentine playmaker Pablo Aimar struck a first-half hat-trick to lead the defending Spanish champions to a 5-1 demolition of Athletic Bilbao at Mestalla on Saturday.

Patrick Kluivert also struck three as Barcelona put their recent domestic problems behind them by thrashing Alaves 6-1, while Deportivo Coruna returned to form with a 2-1 victory at Rayo Vallecano, Roy Makaay getting both their goals.

Real Madrid could not match their fellow Champions League sides, though, as they were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw at home to hard-working Villarreal.

Aimar's virtuoso display took Valencia provisionally top on 14 points, ahead of Real Sociedad on goal difference. The Basque side are not in action until Sunday, when they host Racing Santander.

Celta Vigo, in second place on 13 points going into the seventh round of matches, could only record a goalless draw at home to Atletico Madrid, leaving them third behind Valencia and Real Sociedad.

Real Madrid's home draw was enough to take them up to fourth place on 12 points, ahead of Malaga and Deportivo Coruna on goal difference.

Barcelona's excellent win at home to Alaves saw them move up to seventh, a point behind Real, Deportivo and Malaga, who are at home to Espanyol on Sunday.

Real Madrid had been in with a chance to join the leaders on 14 points but the European champions, beaten 2-0 at Racing Santander last weekend, were once again a long way from their best.

Zinedine Zidane gave them the lead with a brilliant left-foot strike on 23 minutes but with Ronaldo struggling up front, they were unable to build on their advantage.

Jorge Lopez levelled the scores in first-half injury-time, winning a penalty with a push from Claude Makelele and converting it himself.

The visitors almost had a second after the break, Iker Casillas saving a point-blank Martin Palermo header with his feet.

Real came close to clinching what would have been an ill-deserved victory in the final minute, Pepe Reina having to react quickly to push a Roberto Carlos freekick against the post.

"All the players worked hard, defending the Real Madrid shirt," coach Vicente del Bosque said. "It was a good test, without the victory.

"Ronaldo could have been tired after playing all our recent games. He has to adapt to his new team but the important thing is that he's happy here and he's getting better all the time."