By DPA
Madrid : Barcelona came from behind to beat lowly Deportivo Coruna at home and regain second place in the Spanish Liga.
The 2-1 win Sunday keeps alive Barca’s perfect home record – and keeps them four points behind leaders Real Madrid, who won 1-0 Saturday in Bilbao. Barca now have 31 points from 15 games.
Coach Frank Rijkaard delighted the expectant Camp Nou by starting with a forward-line of Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o and Ronaldinho, for the first time in more than three months.
It was Deportivo, second from bottom, who struck first. In the third minute, the visitors went ahead after shaky Barca keeper Victor Valdes failed to get behind a long Cristian Hidalgo drive from the right.
Depor striker Xisco Jimenez had a good chance to put his side further ahead in the 24th minute, but naively headed over.
Barca gradually rediscovered their old flowing rhythm, enjoying almost 70-per-cent possession, and went level five minutes before halftime.
The lively Andres Iniesta was pulled down for a clear penalty by Cristian, and Ronaldinho made no mistake from the spot. The winning goal came in the 71st minute. Indefatigable captain Carles Puyol broke free down the right and centred to the near post. Depor keeper Gustavo Munua spilled the cross, and Xavi Hernandez pushed the ball in at leisure.
Once-mighty Deportivo are now second from bottom with just 13 points – and coach Miguel Angel Lotina is in real jeopardy.
Earlier Sunday, Atletico Madrid had moved up to third on 30 points by beating local rivals Getafe 1-0 at home.
Atletico won a bad-tempered match thanks to an early goal from Diego Forlan, turning in a cross from Simao Sabrosa with his left foot in the 20th minute.
Referee Clos Gomez raised eyebrows by brandishing 11 yellow cards and four red, a new season high.
Forwards Sergio Aguero and Jose Antonio were sent off for the hosts and Argentines Lucas Licht and Roberto Abondanizieri for Getafe.
Atleti clung on for the three points, showing the kind of solidity and determination that has eluded them in recent years.
Vertigo sufferers Villarreal, meanwhile, crashed down to fourth on 28 points, by losing 1-0 at home to troubled Betis. Villarreal have picked up just one point in their last three games.
Betis won on a goal after just 10 minutes from veteran midfielder Capi – and thanks to some resolute defending. The unlikely away win will vindicate the decision a week ago by Betis President Pepe Leon to replace coach Hector Cuper with club stalwart Paco Chaparro. The first win in seven games takes Betis up to third from bottom with 14 points.
Espanyol stay in fifth place on 27 points after a remarkable 3-3 draw at Zaragoza. With just five minutes left in Zaragoza, Espanyol were cruising to a 3-1 win, with the hosts down to 10 men thanks to the sending-off of midfielder Peter Luccin.
Then up stepped Ricardo Oliveira, giving Zaragoza a draw – and saving coach Victor Fernandez from the sack, for now – with two classy late goals, both set up by fellow striker Diego Milito.
Milito had given Zaragoza an early lead, only for Espanyol to take control thanks to quickfire goals from Raul Tamudo, Valdo Lopes and Pablo Zabaleta.
The late draw leaves Zaragoza in 10th place, with Fernandez clinging on by his finger nails.
Racing Santander, meanwhile, were moving up to sixth – just one point behind Espanyol – with a 3-1 win over Mallorca, with goals from veterans Jorge Lopez, Aldo Duscher and Pedro Munitis.
Santander are now one point above crisis club Valencia, held to a 0-0 draw Saturday at Osasuna.
Sevilla, for their part, finally got back to winning ways by beating Murcia 3-1. Luis Fabiano scored twice for Sevilla and goes back to the top of the scorers’ chart with ten goals.
Bottom team Levante crashed to a 2-0 home defeat against Recreativo Huelva, leaving them with just seven points.
Another team in trouble is Valladolid, now fifth from bottom after a late 1-0 defeat in Almeria. Valladolid have 16 points followed by fellow newcomers Murcia at 15.