La Liga: Barca held in goalless draw, Sevilla waltz
MADRID, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Barcelona were held to a goalless draw in their late Sunday game with Osasuna.
Without injured strikers Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi, Barcelona showed little spark in Pamplona and are now four points behind leaders Real Madrid after three games.
Osasuna's Javier Portillo wasted several chances, while a bullet header from Barca's close-season signing Thierry Henry was cleared off the line after 53 minutes.
Sevilla waltzed to a 4-1 win over regional rivals Recreativo Huelva in the Primera Liga on Sunday and Villarreal put a recent mauling by Real Madrid behind them with a win in Mallorca that moves them up to fourth.
Frederic Kanoute and Alexander Kerzhakov each scored twice and could have had more in a win that moves Sevilla up to second on six points, three behind leaders Real Madrid with a game in hand and one ahead of Barcelona.p>
The UEFA Cup holders, who lost just twice at home last season, never looked in danger and Russian Kerzhakov pounced on a parried shot to make it 1-0 after just 12 minutes.
Mali international Kanoute effortlessly strolled through Recreativo's defence and rounded Stefano Sorrentino for the second in the 34th, which belatedly sparked some resistance from the visitors when Carlos Martins flashed a shot across goal.
Kanoute again cut through Recre's defence shortly after the break, latching on to a looping through ball for his third goal in two matches but Recreativo caught a complacent Sevilla napping and a minute later and Aitor grabbed one back.
KONE DEBUT
Kanoute was at the heart of Sevilla's best moves but made way for Arouna Kone, the 12 million euros ($16.66 million) Ivory Coast striker, to make his debut midway through the second half.
Recre briefly had the King's Cup winners rocking and Javier Guerrero hit the angle of bar and post with an inswinging cross.
The team from Huelva were then given a let off when Kerzhakov scooped a 68th minute penalty well over the bar but he made amends in the 75th with his third goal in two games.
Recreativo's Edu Moya was sent off five minutes from time for a dangerous tackle on Diego Capel.
Big spenders Atletico Madrid are still looking for a first win of the campaign after drawing 1-1 at promoted Real Murcia. Atletico's Argentine striker Sergio Aguero put away Yourkas Seitaridis's cross early on but Francisco Gallardo struck a late equaliser when he wrong-footed Costinha and rifled a shot into the far corner.
The result leaves Atletico with just two points, seven behind city rivals Real.
Their UEFA Cup rivals Villarreal snatched a late 1-0 win at Real Mallorca thanks to Nihat Kahveci's long range free kick but were fortunate whn a late Mallorca effort was ruled offside.
Espanyol beat visitors Getafe 1-0 and Deportivo Coruna also won 1-0 at home to a disappointing Real Betis while Pedro Munitis gave Racing Santander a 1-0 victory over Levante.