Barcelona's Portugal midfielder Deco has torn a thigh muscle and faces up to five weeks on the sidelines, the Primera Liga club said.

Deco picked up the injury in Saturday's 3-1 league defeat at Villarreal, and limped off in the 71st minute.

Deco will miss the Champions League Group E matches at Rangers tomorrow and at home to the Glasgow side in just over two weeks' time, and will be a doubt for Portugal's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Armenia and Finland next month.

Champions Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat at Espanyol. Spain winger Albert Riera headed home a corner after two minutes and in the 52nd Spain striker Raul Tamudo lobbed goalkeeper Iker Casillas from the edge of the area for their second. Real defender Sergio Ramos volleyed in from a corner in the 90th minute but Espanyol held on.

Real Betis and Racing Santander drew 1-1 yesterday. Striker Xisco gave Betis the lead when Racing failed to clear a long throw into the area in the 63rd.

Racing had the chance to level when Betis defender Juanito was sent off for a foul in the area, but Jorge Lopez missed the ensuing penalty in the 76th. Lopez made amends poaching an equaliser with three minutes to go.

Real Mallorca won 2-0 at Recreativo Huelva. Mallorca striker Daniel Guiza raced through on to Borja Valera's pass and flicked the ball over the goalkeeper in the second minute, and 11 minutes from time striker Tuni's long-range effort made sure of the side's first away win.

Athletic Bilbao also had an away win beating Valladolid 2-1. Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz scored from a tight angle in the ninth minute. He doubled the lead with a header from a free-kick in the 32nd.

Valladolid pulled one back from the penalty spot through Victor in the 70th.

Last night Atletico Madrid beat Zaragoza 4-0 with goals from Luis Garcia, Diego Forlan and two from Maxi Rodriguez.