Villa brace boosts Valencia´s dreams of Europe

Spanish international striker David Villa took his season’s league tally to 20 with a late brace as Valencia defeated Osasuna 3-0 at home Sunday to reinforce their bid for a Champions League place.

Winger Joaquin netted the opener on 47 minutes before Villa scored two late goals scoring on 89 minutes and then converted a penalty three minutes into stoppage time.

With fifth-placed Real Mallorca falling eight points behind after a 1-1 draw at Almeria, Valencia, in third, now look odds-on to net one of the four Champions League spots.

Valencia will travel to Atletico Madrid on Thursday for the second leg of the all-Spanish Europa League quarter-final with the tie evenly balanced at 2-2.

Real Mallorca’s away form continues to undermine their Champions League hopes as the islanders drew 1-1 at Almeria on Sunday as they missed the chance to go back above Sevilla into fourth.

Kalu Uche put Almeria ahead in the fourth minute before substitute Pierre Webo equalised on 87 minutes.

Mallorca have won 12 out of 14 games at home but on the road they have won just twice and lie level on points with Sevilla, 3-0 winners over Tenerife on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Villarreal moved two points behind sixth-placed Athletic Bilbao, beaten 4-1 by Barcelona on Saturday, with a 2-0 win at Valladolid.

Defender Angel Lopez and Brazilian forward Nilmar were on target for Villarreal who are bidding for a Europa League place after a terrible start to the season.

Valladolid lie second from bottom of the table seven points from safety with eight games to save their skin.

In other matches Sunday, Xerez twice came from behind to net a point in a 2-2 draw with Sporting Gijon.

Xerez stay bottom eight points from safety but are now just two points behind third from bottom Tenerife.

Real Madrid travel to lowly Racing Santander later on Sunday looking to reclaim top spot from Barcelona ahead of next Saturday’s ‘El Clasico’ at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Barcelona’s 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao sent them three points clear at the top and Real will be desperate for a 12th consecutive win to go into the Barca showdown level on points.

“I am confident we will win the league,” said Real superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. “We will try to win all of our remaining games. It is difficult but we will try.”

Reigning champions Barcelona have a tough Champions League quarter-final second leg at home to Arsenal on Tuesday before a trip to Madrid four days later.

“The season will come down to this week,” said defender Eric Abidal. “We are the reigning champions of the competition and we should battle hard to retain it.

“It is the most important game of the season and at home, especially, we cannot falter.”

In Sunday’s other late match two European hopefuls clash as Atletico Madrid host Deportivo La Coruna at the Vicente Calderon.

Depor are three points off the top six while Atletico are a full eight points away although they could get into Europe via the Kings Cup having reached the final.