Bayer looked more determined after the break and Kladec headed home an equaliser, but Barcelona were soon back in front as Alexis grabbed his second of the night. Lionel Messi made it three with just a couple of minutes remaining and Barca head into the second leg with a two goal cushion and 3 away goals.

Pereira put the islanders in front after just four minutes of play but it didn’t take the Blue and Whites long to get back into the game, Fernández getting the equaliser in the eleventh minute.

Two more goals in the second half from Toulalan and Rondón made it quite a comfortable win for Málaga and leaves them just outside the European qualification spots.

Two strikes from Lekic put Osasuna 2-0 early in the first half and it remained that way until Alexis pulled one back for the visitors at the beginning of the second half. However, it took only five minutes for the home side to re-establish a two goal gushion, Raúl Garcia the scorer.

Tello, on as a substitute for Pedro, made it 3-2 and that’s the way it stayed.

Barcelona’s opponents in the Copa del Rey final, Athletic Bilbao, also failed to win, losing 2-1 to Real Betis. Castro and Nelson were the scorers for Betis, Javí Matinez for Bilbao.

Fabregas opened the scoring for Barcelona after fifteen minutes and then Xavi added a second with just ten minutes remaining.

On Tuesday night, the hopes of Mirandés, a Second Division B team, were in tatters as Bilbao established a 3-0 lead in the first quarter of an hour with goals from Muniain, Susaeta and Auternetxe.

Altor Blanco got one back for Mirandés but Llorente countered by scoring two goals within five minutes. Altor Blanc got his name on the scoresheet for a second time but the dream was almost over and an own goal from Caneda made the final scoreline 6-2.

The 29 year old Spaniard was found guilty of doping after testing positive for clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour. Contador himself has maintained that the failed test was a result of eating contaminated meat.

Meanwhile, Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, who finished second to Contador in the 2010 Tour de France, is set to be elevated to champion.

Under the rules of the world governing body, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), Contador also forfeits all his wins in 2011, which include the Giro d’Italia.

A seventeenth minute header from Sergio Ramos was enough for Real Madrid to seal victory over Getafe.

Barcelona triumphed 2-1 in their game with Real Sociedad to keep the gap at the top to seven points. Telo opened the scoring in the ninth minute and late in the second half, Messi added a second.

Real struck back within two minutes with a goal from Carlos Vela to set up a nail-bighting finish.

Levante remain in fourth place in La Liga after a 1-1 draw with Racing Santander as the two teams below them, Athletic Bilbao and Espanyol, were playing each other and also drew, 3-3 the score.

After clearing snow from the pitch just before the game, Mallorca managed to edge Real Betis 1-0 o0n a cold night.

All the goals came withing the first twenty minutes but the 12 yellow and one red card were spread out over the whole match.

Weligton put the Blue and Whites ahead in the seventh minute but Luna equalised eight minutes later. Four minutes after that, Seba Fernández put the home side back in front again and that’s the way it stayed.

Málaga move above Sevilla into seventh place in La Liga.

Lafita opened the scoring for the visitors in the tenth minute but it only took a few minutes for Real to respond, Kaka the scorer.

After the restart, Cristiano Ronaldo put Madrid ahead and Özil added to the tally a short time later.

Meanwhile, Barcelona travelled to Villarreal but came away with just one point after a 0-0 draw.