Atletico stun Villarreal to revive hopes

Atletico Madrid came from two goals down to defeat 10-man Villarreal 3-2 at the Vicente Calderon on Sunday to pull themselves back into the Champions League race.

Goals from Diego Forlan, who also missed a penalty, and Antonio Lopez in the final ten minutes secured a crucial win for Atletico who are now two points behind fourth-placed Villarreal.

If Atletico had lost Villarreal would have been eight points clear of their rivals and it looked like it was heading that way after Matias Fernandez and Ruben Cani put the visitors into a fortunate 2-0 lead.

Earlier in the season these two sides played out a 4-4 draw when Atletico trailed 3-1 and they came from behind again to get their Champions League exit to FC Porto out of their system.

Sergio “Kun” Aguero quickly reducing arrears following Cani’s goal and Villarreal then had Javi Venta sent off in the 65th minute for a cynical second yellow card.

Atletico took full advantage with Forlan shrugging off his third minute penalty miss to equalise in the 80th minute. Two minutes later Lopez rose highest to head in a corner and leave Villarreal deflated.

Sevilla’s faint hopes of challenging Real Madrid for second place in the Spanish first division looked to have ended after a 2-2 draw with high-flying Malaga on Sunday left them nine points behind the champions.

Brazilian international Luis Fabiano scored an 84th minute equaliser to snatch a point for Sevilla who were 2-0 down against their Andalucian neighbours.

Veteran striker Salva Ballesta, winner of the Pichichi crown in 2000 with Racing Santander, scored a first half brace (19 min, 32) to put Malaga ahead before Freddy Kanoute pulled a goal back and Fabiano sealed the comeback.

“I still feel as if we were the ones who lost two points,” explained Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez. “It was one of those days when nothing went in.

“Malaga showed what a good team they are but it would have been harsh not to have got at least a point.”

Sevilla stay third but are nine points behind Real who defeated Athletic Bilbao 5-2 on Saturday to close to within three points of Barcelona at the top.

The pre-season target for Malaga was survival but they are in the hunt for a UEFA Cup spot, and possibly even a Champions League place, lying fifth two points behind Villarreal.

Frontrunners Barcelona are in action at Almeria later on Sunday aiming to restore their six-point cushion over Real at the summit.

Real cut Barcelona’s lead to three points on Saturday with a 5-2 thrashing of Bilbao to go some way to easing the pain of their 4-0 Champions League humiliation against Liverpool in midweek.

“The team responded and did what it had to,” said manager Juande Ramos. “It was especially important after the intense match we played on Tuesday against Liverpool.”

In the relegation dogfight, strugglers Real Mallorca and Espanyol shared a thrilling 3-3 draw. Espanyol trailed 3-1 and had one man less but showed great spirit to come back and snatch a point.

Espanyol stay bottom six points from safety while Mallorca hover three points above the drop zone.

Second from bottom Numancia were crushed by Racing Santander in a 5-0 drubbing with all the goals coming in the first half.

Osasuna, who occupy the final relegation spot, drew 0-0 with Real Betis who are just three points above the drop.

Freefalling Getafe, Spanish Cup semi-finalists the past two seasons, are two points above Osasuna after a 1-0 defeat to Valladolid on Sunday.