After Real Madrid's defeat in Valladolid last Saturday, an announcement about Bernd Schuster's future is expected within the next few hours.

Of the early season leaders, only Barcelona could capitalise, however, as Valencia also fell to a shock defeat - at home to a rapidly-improving Sporting Gijón in Saturday's other fixture- while Villarreal were held to a last-minute equaliser in Málaga last night.

However, the champions have now been caught by Sevilla, who comfortably beat Getafe 0-2 in Madrid.

Diego Forlán struck twice as Atletico Madrid leap-frogged Deportivo La Coruña into sixth place with an emphatic 4-1 home victory.

Barcelona also encountered few problems in reaping all three points from their visit to releagtion-threatened Recreativo Huelva.

In a game replete with chances for the visitors, it took until six minutes after the interval for Messi to break the deadlock. 

A well-worked set-piece on the edge of the area, saw Xavi shun the shooting opportunity to slip the ball to his Argentinian team-mate, who evaded the defensive wall to slam the ball high into the back of the net.

Barça's second came four minutes from time when Seydou Keita was left with the simplest of close-range tap-ins to convert Eto'o's scuffed volley though the goal was met, somewhat justifiably, by a chorus of offside appeals.

Sunday, 16th November
Getafe 0-2 Sevilla
Malaga 2-2 Villarreal
Atletico Madrid 4-1 Deportivo La Coruna
Almeria 2-1 Mallorca
Espanyol 3-4 Numancia
Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Osasuna
Recreativo Huelva 0-2 Barcelona
Real Betis 3-1 Racing Santander

Saturday, 15th November
Valladolid 1-0 Real Madrid
Valencia 2-3 Sporting Gijon

Liga standings, points after 11 games
1  Barcelona  28
2  Villarreal  25
3  Valencia  23
4  Real Madrid  23
5  Sevilla  23
6  Atletico Madrid  17
7  Deportivo La Coruna  15
8  Almeria  15
9  Sporting Gijon  15
10 Real Betis  14
11 Malaga  14
12 Getafe  13
13 Real Valladolid  13
14 Racing Santander  12
15 Real Mallorca  12
16 Espanyol  12
17 Numancia  10
18 Athletic Bilbao  9
19 Osasuna  8
20 Recreativo Huelva  7

Sunday, 23rd November
Barcelona vs Getafe
Deportivo La Coruna vs Athletic Bilbao
Mallorca vs Malaga
Numancia vs Atletico Madrid
Osasuna vs Almeria
Racing Santander vs Espanyol
Real Madrid vs Recreativo Huelva
Sevilla vs Valencia
Sporting Gijon vs Real Betis
Villarreal vs Valladolid