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MADRID, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of the Spanish Primera Liga to four points after beating local rivals Atletico Madrid 3-0, while Barcelona were held to a draw at home to Malaga in the 12th round of games over the weekend.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick consisting of a deflected free kick, a penalty and a tap in following great work by Gareth Bale to inflict Atletico's second defeat in two games, ensuring that the last Madrid derby to be played in the Vicente Calderon Stadium went Real's way.
Real Madrid were the better side as Atletico looked to be searching for their best style of play and lacked the defensive steel which has made them so hard to beat in recent seasons.
Barcelona suffered from the loss of Leo Messi with a stomach bug in the run-up to their home game against Malaga. With Luis Suarez suspended and Andres Iniesta still recovering from a knee injury, Luis Enrique's side was unable to break down a solid visiting defense led by goalkeeper Carlos Kameni, who pulled off a series of saves to keep a clean sheet.
Sevilla scored two late goals away to Deportivo la Coruna to move up to third in the table.
Deportivo had looked to be on the way to a much needed home win thanks to goals from Ryan Babel and Florin, but Steven N'Zonzi got Sevilla back into the game in the 44th minute before Vitolo and Gabriel Mercado turned the game around in the 87th and 93rd minutes to leave Deportivo empty handed.
A win for Villarreal away to Athletic Club Bilbao would have lifted them into third, but Raul Garcia's solitary goal gave Athletic the spoils after he was teed up by Aritz Aduriz, who would have extended Athletic's lead were it not for some fine saves from Villarreal keeper Sergio Asenjio.
Meanwhile, Real Sociedad won their fourth game in a row to move into fifth above Atletico Madrid in the league table.
The side from San Sebastian dominated nearly all of their match away to Sporting Gijon, winning 3-1 thanks to goals from Xabi Prieto, David Zurutuza and a spectacular Inigo Martinez free kick.
Duje Cop gave Sporting a glimmer of hope in the 28th minute, but was unable to deliver for a side that has now gone 9 games without a win.
Fran Rico's 10th minute goal gave Eibar three points at home to a miss-firing Celta Vigo to take Jose Luis Mendilibar's side to 18 points. Meanwhile, Espanyol's defensive organization saw them win 1-0 away to Alaves- Gerard, with Moreno scoring the decisive goal 10 minutes from time, just three minutes after seeing a penalty saved by home keeper Fernando Pacheco.
Valencia and Granada drew 1-1 in Valencia's Mestalla stadium for a result which will help neither side.
Granada arrived in Valencia without a win all season, but took the lead through Mehdi Carcela on the stroke of halftime. Nani leveled just after the break, but despite Valencia's pressure, the visitors held on for their fifth point of the campaign.
