Barcelona downed 3-1 by Espanyol in the Spanish league

2Slick

MADRID, Spain (AP) - Espanyol beat crosstown rival FC Barcelona at home for the first time in five years Saturday, using goals by Luis Garcia, Raul Tamudo and Francisco Perez Rufete for a 3-1 victory.

The loss was Barcelona's second in the this season and a win by league-leading Sevilla on Sunday against would drop the defending champions five points back.

Sevilla leads with 37 points while Barcelona remained with 35. Valencia beat crosstown rival Levante 3-0 and climbed into third with 33, one ahead of Real Madrid.

Madrid could reclaim third place on Sunday with a victory at home against Zaragoza.

In other games Sunday, it's Gimnastic Tarragona vs. Getafe, Osasuna vs. Real Betis, Racing Santander vs. Real Sociedad, Recreativo Huelva vs. Deportivo La Coruna, Athletic Bilbao vs. Villarreal, Celta Vigo vs. Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid vs. Zaragoza.

Espanyol attacked from the start and led in the 31st when Garcia connected with a left-foot from a pass by Raul Tamudo.

Goalkeeper Carlos Kameni preserved Espanyol's lead into halftime, twice coming up with saves in the 45th minute, the second on a Ronaldinho free kick.

Argentina striker Javier Saviola equalized in the 60th minute, eluding four defenders before unleashing a right-footed shot. Tamudo restored Espanyol's lead five minutes later, heading in Sergio Sanchez's cross, and Rufete assured the victory in the 89th when he converted a pass from Garcia.

In Valencia, Hugo Viana, Fernando Morientes and Roberto Ayala all scored to pace the host side.

A minute's silence was observed at Mestalla Stadium to honor two Ecuadorean men who died from a bomb attack at Madrid's airport on Dec. 30.

Viana scored his first league goal for Valencia in the 51st minute after a pass from striker David Villa. The midfielder had taken advantage of Levante defender Alvaro receiving treatment off the field.

Morientes added a second goal on a powerful cross by Villa in the 56th minute, and Ayala headed in Valencia's third in the 79th.

Levante almost scored in the 72nd but Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Canizares saved acrobatically to deny a close-range header by forward Gustavo Reggi.