Spain Football

For the first time this season, FC Barcelona went top of the Liga after beating Málaga 4-1 in a difficult game at La Rosaleda. As the wet pitch didn't faciltate Barça's one-touch football, the blaugrana, playing in their yellow away kit, changed tactics putting together a long ball game that left the malagueños without answer.

Although Villarreal had beaten Athletic 4-1, Barça were mathematically top at 10 pm, before the Valencia-Racing match kicked off in Mestalla. A win by Valencia would have put the Ches back at the top off the table, but surprisingly they were baten 4-2 by lowly Racing.

Only a win by a margin of more than nine goals by Real Madrid against Almería will put the merengues in the pole position, so Barça can be confident of leading the table until Jornada 10 next weekend.