Barcelona reclaimed top spot in the Primera Liga yesterday after a 3-0 win at home to basement side Gimnastic Tarragona.

An early strike from the in-form Javier Saviola, who took his tally to seven goals in four games, and second half goals from French winger Ludovic Giuly and midfielder Andres Iniesta ended Gimnastic's stubborn resistance.

The win meant that Barca, who have a game in hand, are level on 38 points with Sevilla and Real Madrid, but lead the standings thanks to their superior goal difference.

A draw in Wednesday's rescheduled league match against struggling Real Betis will ensure the Catalans of the symbolic title of winter champions at the halfway point in the Spanish season.

Valencia chalked up their sixth Primera Liga win on the trot after a superbly struck free-kick from David Villa earned them a 1-0 victory at Real Sociedad that had lifted them into provisional second place.

Sociedad keeper Victor Bravo was left rooted to the spot when the Spain striker whipped a 25-metre shot over the wall and into the top corner shortly before the half-hour mark.

Bernd Schuster's Getafe, who knocked Valencia out of the Cup in midweek, continued their fine run of form with a 1-0 win at home to a beleaguered Celta Vigo who have now gone eight games since their last victory. Forward Manu del Moral struck the winner with just 41 seconds on the clock to lift Getafe into eighth place in the table.

Juan Antonio Reyes scored Real Madrid's goal with 12 minutes to go in last night 1-0 victory over Mallorca.

Results: A. Madrid vs Osasuna 1-0; Villarreal vs Sevilla 0-0; Deportivo vs Espanyol 0-0; Getafe vs Celta Vigo 1-0; Levante vs A. Bilbao 0-0; Real Betis vs Rac. Santander 1-1; Real Sociedad vs Valencia 0-1; Real Zaragoza vs Rec. Huelva 0-0; Barcelona vs Gimnastic 3-0; Mallorca vs Real Madrid 0-1.