UPDATE 2-Soccer-Xavi strikes late to earn Barca nervy 1-0 win

(Updates after late match)

By Simon Baskett

MADRID, Feb 3 (Reuters) - A superb late strike from midfielder Xavi earned Barcelona a nerve-racking 1-0 win at home to Osasuna on Sunday that allowed them to close to within six points of leaders Real Madrid at the top of the table.

The Catalans seemed to be running out of ideas as they struggled to break down the dogged Osasuna defence but two minutes from time Xavi popped up on the edge of the area and sent an unstoppable first-time shot flying into the net.

Real, who dropped their first points in nine games when they went down 2-0 at Almeria on Saturday, lead the standings on 53 points from 22 games, while Barcelona follow on 47.

Espanyol were the only other side in the top six to win but they had to stage a desperate rearguard action to edge a 1-0 victory at Getafe that lifted them into third spot in the table eight points behind city rivals Barca.

Villarreal, who drew 1-1 at home to Real Mallorca, are in fourth, level on 39 points with Espanyol and one ahead of Atletico Madrid who were also held at their own stadium, drawing 1-1 against Real Murcia at the Calderon.

Ronald Koeman's Valencia ended their miserable run in the league when they recorded their first win in 10 outings with a 2-0 victory at Valladolid.

A well taken goal from midfielder Juan Mata on the hour and a simple tap-in from striker David Villa 12 minutes later were enough to end Valencia's three-match losing streak and push them up into ninth place.