Real Madrid moved up to second place, at least overnight, with a 3-1 win at Gimnastic Tarragona and leapfroged over Valencia who crashed 1-0 at Racing Santander.

"'Ronnie' was again the determining factor," admitted Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard.

"I'm happy with three goals even though we could have scored more. We can still improve but the victory was important," added the Dutchman whose side had been shocked by their derby defeat at Real Madrid last week.

Barcelona got off the mark from a Ronaldinho penalty after 28 minutes, when Recreativo midfielder Mario Alvarez was harshly judged to have impeded Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Ronaldinho then put the Catalans comfortably in the driving seat with a rare headed goal after 57 minutes, connecting with a cross from his Brazilian compatriot Sylvinho.

Huelva's heads went down when they went two behind and midfield playmaker Xavi Hernandez added Barca's third with another header just two minutes later.

It wasn't one of Ronaldinho's classic games but the Brazilian almost got his hattrick after 73 minutes only for an outstanding save from Recreativo's French goalkeeper Bertrand Laquait to deny him.

Real Madrid were stunned when they found that Gimnastic Tarragona, who are stuck in the relegation zone, refused to be overawed by the Spanish giants.

Gimnastic even opened the scoring through a 29th-minute penalty from Abel Buades, after Ariza Makukula had been fouled by Fabio Cannavaro, although it looked like a dive by the Portuguese striker to many pundits.

Roberto Carlos then got Real back on level terms barely a minute before the break with a trade mark thunderbolt free-kick from just outside the area.

Ivan Helguera headed Real ahead from a Jose Maria Gutierrez corner four minutes into the second half before a sweet shot by Robinho from the corner of the six-yard box five minutes before the whistle secured all three points.

Former England captain David Beckham missed the match with slight thigh and knee problems.

However, on their form against 'Nastic, Real coach Fabio Capello will be tempted to keep the same team together for their Champions League encounter with Steaua Bucherest on Wednesday, which would mean Beckham will be again left to simmer among the substitutes if he is fit.

The fog that descended on Racing Santander's El Sardinero stadium made life difficult for both teams in the first half although Valencia had the best of a scrappy and goalless first 45 minutes.

Racing started the second half in a different mood and Pedro Munitis broke the deadlock after 56 minutes by heading home from close range, after a pass from Nicola Zigic.

The goal injected life into the game and Valencia immediately tried to get back on level terms, with Mario Regueiro going close just two minutes later, but Racing hung on to record their first home win this season.

"We lost to a team that expended a lot of effort but is inferior to us. I never imagined that we would play so badly," said Valencia coach Quique Sanchez Flores.

Racing striker Javi Guerrero said: "We're very happy to do so well against a class side like Valencia. We ran, we suffered but we won."

Sevilla, who started the weekend in third and just one point behind Barca, have a chance to move into second, overtaking Real and Valencia, if they can win at Celta Vigo on Sunday.