La Liga - Round-up: Atletico fourth, Barca lose

Eurosport - Sun, 17 May 22:29:00 2009

Diego Forlan stroked in a penalty to give Atletico Madrid a 1-0 Primera Liga win over visiting Valencia and improve their chances of a lucrative place in next season's Champions League.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 La Liga Atl. Madrid-Valencia Atletico Atlético Forlán Forlan Kun AgÜero - 0

Barcelona clinched their first league title in three years on Saturday and Real Madrid are assured of second place with two matches left.

Third-placed Sevilla (64 points) and Atletico, who climbed to fourth (61), have the best chance of grabbing the remaining two spots in Europe's top club competition and Valencia and Villarreal are still in the hunt in fifth and sixth on 59.

Atletico took the lead from the penalty spot in the 29th minute at the Calderon.

Sergio Aguero burst through the centre and took the ball round Valencia goalkeeper Luis Cesar Sanchez before tumbling to the ground and the referee pointed to the spot.

Television replays showed the decision was harsh on Cesar but Forlan drove the ball low into the righthand corner to score his 28th league goal of the season, one short of Barca striker and Primera Liga top scorer Samuel Eto'o.

Valencia rarely threatened the home side's goal and Simao Sabrosa, Aguero and Forlan had chances to stretch the lead before Atletico wrapped up a fourth straight win.

Real Mallorca earlier came from behind to beat a weakened Barca 2-1 and spoil the new champions' celebrations.

Eto'o grabbed an early lead with his 29th goal of the campaign, but quick strikes from Juan Arango and Cleber Santana sealed the fightback for mid-table Mallorca in the second half.

Eto'o had a chance to level from the spot in the final minute, but struck his penalty against the base of the post.

Pep Guardiola sent out a number of youth players at the Ono Estadi with his focus turning to the Champions League final against Manchester United in Rome on May 27, and a possible third trophy to add to the King's Cup and the league title.

"My idea is that many players won't play until the final in Rome," Guardiola said. "I don't want to risk anything."

In other matches, a diving header into his own net from Malaga 's Helder Rosario earned Sporting Gijon a 2-1 home win that hauled them out of the relegation places.

Sporting climbed to 17th on 37 points, above Osasuna, who drew 0-0 with Sevilla on Saturday, on the head-to-head rule.

A controversial Jose Barkero late penalty gave Numancia a 1-0 win over rivals for the drop Recreativo Huelva. Recre are bottom on 33 points and Numancia have 35, two short of safety.

Victories for Real Betis, Racing Santander and Espanyol helped move them further away from the bottom three.

Nikola Zigic headed a late winner for Racing in a 3-2 win over 10-man Real Valladolid, and a soft penalty scored by Luis Garcia gave Espanyol a 1-0 win over Copa del Rey finalists Athletic Bilbao. Real Betis beat 10-man Almeria 2-0.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 12 of 12

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  1. @#$% on atletico played thankgod now villa and silva­ will definetly go to liverpool then liverpool will be­ the best team in the orld YAY!!

    From Waqas A, on Mon 18 May 8:36PM

  2. getachew44 - GET LOST

    From TITUS N, on Mon 18 May 7:30PM

  3. whahahahaa and again "getachew44" what an­ idiot...

    From iurisimo, on Mon 18 May 11:52AM

  4. sure
    i want spain to lead all with 12 CL title & i­ hate barca but i'm forced wish them­ g.....lu...ck
    because they represent la liga against­ EPL

    From getachew44, on Mon 18 May 10:02AM

  5. sure
    i want spain to lead all with 12 CL title & i­ hate barca but i'm forced wish them­ g.....lu...ck
    because they represent la liga against­ EPL

    From getachew44, on Mon 18 May 10:02AM

  6. sure
    i want spain to lead all with 12 CL title & i­ hate barca but i'm forced wish them­ g.....lu...ck
    because they represent la liga against­ EPL

    From getachew44, on Mon 18 May 10:02AM

  7. PATHETIC

    From Varnavas P, on Mon 18 May 9:59AM

  8. getachew44 - let me get this straight. Your hoping that­ Barcelona cheat to victory than earn it as they wont­ win it otherwise?

    From markcunn, on Mon 18 May 9:24AM

  9. what a round the big winner athletico
    4th place not­ sure
    athletico 61
    valencia 59
    villareal 59­ wawwww
    eto'o, forlan & villa lost alot of­ chances in this round, each could have reached 30 or­ more goals
    eto 29
    forlan 28
    villa 25
    i'm thinking­ if eto plays the next match to win pichichi &­ europ's golden foot, i hope he gets injury against­ osasona, that means barca will be without­ henry,eto,iniesta,alves,marquiz and abidal
    the start­ line against man u will­ be
    valdez
    puyol,pique,tore,silvinho
    busques
    xavi,kaita
    ­ messi,bojan,gudjonson
    then it will easy win to man­ u
    not like some say good game
    i hope god, platini­ & the ref helps barca if not! say from now goodbye­ to champions league title

    From getachew44, on Mon 18 May 8:56AM

  10. what a round the big winner athletico
    4th place not­ sure
    athletico 61
    valencia 59
    villareal 59­ wawwww
    eto'o, forlan & villa lost alot of­ chances in this round, each could have reached 30 or­ more goals
    eto 29
    forlan 28
    villa 25
    i'm thinking­ if eto plays the next match to win pichichi &­ europ's golden foot, i hope he gets injury against­ osasona, that means barca will be without­ henry,eto,iniesta,alves,marquiz and abidal
    the start­ line against man u will­ be
    valdez
    puyol,pique,tore,silvinho
    busques
    xavi,kaita
    ­ messi,bojan,gudjonson
    then it will easy win to man­ u
    not like some say good game
    i hope god, platini­ & the ref helps barca if not! say from now goodbye­ to champions league title

    From getachew44, on Mon 18 May 8:56AM

  11. what a round the big winner athletico
    4th place not­ sure
    athletico 61
    valencia 59
    villareal 59­ wawwww
    eto'o, forlan & villa lost alot of­ chances in this round, each could have reached 30 or­ more goals
    eto 29
    forlan 28
    villa 25
    i'm thinking­ if eto plays the next match to win pichichi &­ europ's golden foot, i hope he gets injury against­ osasona, that means barca will be without­ henry,eto,iniesta,alves,marquiz and abidal
    the start­ line against man u will­ be
    valdez
    puyol,pique,tore,silvinho
    busques
    xavi,kaita
    ­ messi,bojan,gudjonson
    then it will easy win to man­ u
    not like some say good game
    i hope god, platini­ & the ref helps barca if not! say from now goodbye­ to champions league title

    From getachew44, on Mon 18 May 8:56AM

  12. what a round the big winner athletico
    4th place not­ sure
    athletico 61
    valencia 59
    villareal 59­ wawwww
    eto'o, forlan & villa lost alot of­ chances in this round, each could have reached 30 or­ more goals
    eto 29
    forlan 28
    villa 25
    i'm thinking­ if eto plays the next match to win pichichi &­ europ's golden foot, i hope he gets injury against­ osasona, that means barca will be without­ henry,eto,iniesta,alves,marquiz and abidal
    the start­ line against man u will­ be
    valdez
    puyol,pique,tore,silvinho
    busques
    xavi,kaita
    ­ messi,bojan,gudjonson
    then it will easy win to man­ u
    not like some say good game
    i hope god, platini­ & the ref helps barca if not! say from now goodbye­ to champions league title

    From getachew44, on Mon 18 May 8:55AM
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