Real Madrid refused to do title-chasing rivals Barcelona a favour as they were thrashed 5-2 by league leaders Deportivo La Coruna last night.

Barcelona, targeting a third straight championship and second at the start of play, had no reason to crow at Real's misfortune as they earlier stumbled, losing in abject fashion 1-0 at home to Alaves.

Barcelona's reverse, courtesy of a 16th-minute goal for the visitors by Nan Ribera, left the Catalan club third in the table, five points adrift of Deportivo.

Real Zaragoza earlier took advantage of Barcelona's poor showing to go second, four points off the pace, with a 2-2 draw at Atletico Madrid, who slowly but surely are extricating themselves from the basement.

Dutch forward Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored both Atletico goals, one from the penalty spot to take his total to 20 this season.

In Italy, Lazio beat Torino 4-2 to knock Juventus off the top of the table yesterday, despite having Yugoslav star Sinisa Mihajlovic sent off after scoring one goal and making another.

Mihajlovic's hero-to-villain act came as Lazio took advantage of Juventus's 1-1 draw with Udinese on Saturday night to go one point clear.

Juventus' cause wasn't helped by wins for two other title rivals - AS Roma hammering Venezia 5-0 and champions AC Milan trouncing Bari 4-1 at the San Siro.

Inter Milan lost touch after a controversial injury-time penalty cost them a 1-1 draw at Parma - prompting a furious outburst by coach Marcello Lippi.

In such a close-run championship, Lazio coach Sven Goran Eriksson admitted: "We're glad to be top, but it doesn't really count for much. Perhaps it gives you a morale boost. It's better to read the papers in the morning and see that Lazio are top."