MADRID, Jan 24 (Reuters) – Real Madrid were awaiting news on the extent of a hand injury of captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas ahead of their return to La Liga action at home to Getafe on Sunday (1100 GMT).

Spain’s number one was trying to collect a loose ball in the area during Wednesday’s King’s Cup quarter-final second leg in Valencia, when his team mate Alvaro Arbeloa accidentally kicked his left hand while trying to effect a clearance.

MADRID, Jan 23 (Reuters) – Real Madrid survived red cards for Fabio Coentrao and Angel Di Maria, and an injury to Iker Casillas, to draw 1-1 in Valencia, and qualify for the King’s Cup semi-finals 3-1 on aggregate on Wednesday.

Karim Benzema netted just before halftime to put Jose Mourinho’s side 3-0 up in the tie, before Coentrao picked up a second yellow card for a handball in the 51st minute.

MADRID (Reuters) – Leaders Barcelona suffered their first defeat in La Liga this season when Real Sociedad stormed back from two-goals down and made the most of a red card for Gerard Pique to record a 3-2 home win on Saturday.

Imanol Agirretxe stunned the visitors by sliding in to grab a last-gasp winner after a double from Gonzalo Castro, who scored either side of halftime, helped cancel out early goals for the visitors from Lionel Messi and Pedro.

MADRID (Reuters) – Barcelona’s first defeat in La Liga this season should serve to remind people they are not invincible, coach Tito Vilanova said after their surprise 3-2 loss at Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Barca’s record-breaking start to the first half of the campaign, when they won 18 out of 19 games and only dropped two points in a 2-2 draw at home to Real Madrid, had many pundits already proclaiming them league champions.

MADRID, Jan 19 (Reuters) – Barcelona’s first defeat in La Liga this season should serve to remind people they are not invincible, coach Tito Vilanova said after their surprise 3-2 loss at Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Barca’s record-breaking start to the first half of the campaign, when they won 18 out of 19 games and only dropped two points in a 2-2 draw at home to Real Madrid, had many pundits already proclaiming them league champions.

MADRID (Reuters) – Real Sociedad stunned ten-man Barcelona by handing the leaders their first La Liga defeat this season when they came from two goals down to claim a last-gasp 3-2 win on Saturday.

Imanol Agirretxe slid in to grab the winner for the impressive hosts in added time after Lionel Messi and Pedro had given Barca an early lead.

MADRID, Jan 19 (Reuters) – Real Sociedad stunned ten-man Barcelona by handing the leaders their first La Liga defeat this season when they came from two goals down to claim a last-gasp 3-2 win on Saturday.

Imanol Agirretxe slid in to grab the winner for the impressive hosts in added time after Lionel Messi and Pedro had given Barca an early lead.

MADRID (Reuters) – When Barcelona promoted the little known Tito Vilanova to replace Pep Guardiola, the most successful coach in the club’s history, few expected him to be breaking his predecessor’s records six months down the line.

A 3-1 victory at Malaga on Sunday completed a Spanish best first half of a La Liga season with 55 of a possible 57 points in the bag, surpassing Guardiola’s 52-point record for the same spell two years ago.

MADRID, Jan 14 (Reuters) – When Barcelona promoted the little known Tito Vilanova to replace Pep Guardiola, the most successful coach in the club’s history, few expected him to be breaking his predecessor’s records six months down the line.

A 3-1 victory at Malaga on Sunday completed a Spanish best first half of a La Liga season with 55 of a possible 57 points in the bag, surpassing Guardiola’s 52-point record for the same spell two years ago.

MADRID (Reuters) – Barcelona’s David Villa proved he still has a sharp eye for goal by scoring twice as the holders cruised into the King’s Cup quarter-finals by beating second division Cordoba 5-0 at the Nou Camp on Thursday.

The Spain striker, his country’s leading all-time scorer, has had to be content with a secondary role this season, but has continued to score when called upon and took his tally to five in four Cup games.