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Barcelona players Xavi(left), Keita(middle) and Messi(right) react after drawing 1-1 with Espanyol during a La Liga match on Jan.9, 2012.[Source:Sina.com]

FC Barcelona dropped to five points behind Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga following a 1-1 draw with Espanyol on Sunday.

Barca could only draw 1-1 away to neighbors Espanyol in a thrilling and controversial game. Against an inspired and motivated home side, Barca took a first half lead through a Cesc Fabrigas header, which was their 100th goal in all competitions this season.

However, Espanyol regrouped in the second half and Barca never looked comfortable, although it appeared they would hang on for a vital win. However, Alvaro Vazquez scored a header five minutes from time to make it 1-1.

An exciting game still had time for more drama and Barcelona should have had a penalty in the 92nd minute following a clear handball in the Espanyol penalty area by Raul Rodriguez, but referee Turienzo Alvarez waved away Barca's desperate appeals.

Sunday's matches kicked off with Rayo Vallecano returning to win at home to Sevilla. Jose Antonio Reyes made his return for the visitors after completing his move from Atletico Madrid on Thursday.

Goals from Micho and Raul Tamudo gave Rayo a 2-0 lead, before Julien Escude pulled a goal back for the visitors with half an hour remaining.

Athletic Bilbao have now gone eight years without ever winning away to Getafe, but Marcelo Bielsa's side can took the consolation of a point back home with them after a dull 0-0 draw in the Alfonso Perez Coliseum on Sunday afternoon.

Aritz Aduriz scored a late equalizer to give Valencia a 2-2 draw away to Villarreal and ruin Jose Molina's debut as home coach. Marco Ruben and Gonzalo Rodriguez put Villarreal 2-0 up after just 17 minutes, but Sofiane Feghouli pulled one back before the break and Aduriz's goal three minutes from time assured a share of the points.

Betis chalked up their third consecutive win with a 2-0 triumph over struggling Sporting Gijon.

Roque Santa Cruz scored in the first half and Jorge Molina rounded off the scoring in the 91st minute of a game in which Sporting had to play all of the second period with a man less after Alberto Lora was sent off after seeing two yellow cards in just 42 minutes.

Saturday saw Real Madrid strengthen their lead at the top of La Liga with a 5-1 win at home to Granada.

Following a tight first half in which Karim Benzema had put Madrid ahead and Mikel Rico had levelled for the visitors, Madrid took control thanks to a 33rd minute header from Sergio Ramos and a dominant second period.

Gonzalo Higuain and Benzema made it 4-1 within five minutes of the restart and although Benzema had to leave the pitch injured shortly afterwards, Cristiano Ronaldo ended the scoring in the last minute of the game, although the striker failed to celebrate his goal to the surprise of the fans in the Santiao Bernabeu stadium.

Saturday's other games saw few goals. Real Sociedad and Osasuna ended a contested Basque derby 0-0, while Levante drew a dull game against Mallorca with the same score.

Things got a lot worse for Zaragoza, however, who lost their first game under new coach Manolo Jimenez 1-0 away to Racing Santander. Bernando Espinosa's goal on the stroke of halftime gave Racing three vital points and lifts them out of the bottom three.

Diego Simeone's debut as Atletico Madrid coach away to Malaga was a late kick off and also ended in a 0-0 draw.