Atletico Madrid struck a potentially telling blow in the race for fourth in Spain when completely outplaying Valencia in a 1-0 win at the Vicente Calderon.
Atleti started the day in sixth place but the victory, courtesy of a Diego Forlan penalty after 28 minutes, takes them into the final Champions League place and two points clear of both Valencia and Villarreal, with Deportivo La Coruna a further two points back with two games remaining.
The capital club dominated from the off and could have scored after only 14 minutes when Argentina international Sergio Aguero dinked the ball over the bar after former Tottenham keeper Cesar had spilled a shot from Raul Garcia.
The gifted forward was to play a more decisive role on 28 minutes though. Bursting into the box, Aguero appeared to fall to ground under minimal contact from Cesar but won a penalty that Forlan dispatched with ease.
The Uruguayan’s 28th league goal of the season takes him to within one of Samuel Eto’o in the race for the Pichichi Trophy but Forlan, and his team-mates, could have enjoyed an avalanche of goals after missing a succession of glorious chances.
Just after the restart, Simao found himself one-on-one with Cesar but shot into the body of the goalkeeper while Aguero soon headed wide of the post when unmarked. Atleti were not made to pay for their wastefulness though.
Meanwhile, Samuel Eto’o missed a penalty with the last kick of the game but justice was done as Barcelona suffered only their fourth defeat of the season with a 2-1 loss at Real Mallorca.
Eto’o, facing his former club, had earlier scored after ten minutes for an understrength Barca side that had been crowned Spanish champions following a defeat for Real Madrid in Saturday.
But a stunning free-kick from Juan Arango after 73 minutes and a neat header from Loureiro Cleber Santana just five minutes later turned the game in Mallorca’s favour.
Barca have not sauntered to the domestic double for nothing, though, and in what was the first of three league games before the Champions League final against Manchester United, Josep Guardiola’s side ensured a dramatic conclusion.
Eto’o headed against the post in injury time and the Cameroon international then had the perfect chance to claim his 30th goal in 34 league games when winning a penalty with just seconds remaining.
Replays showed there was little contact as the striker dramatically hurled himself to the floor, but Eto’o struck his spot-kick against the post as Mallorca held on for a deserved victory.
In the earlier kick-offs, Sporting Gijon moved out of the relegation zone as they ended a poor run of form when beating Malaga 2-1 at home, with Real Betis, Espanyol and Racing Santander also securing vital wins.
Gerard handed Sporting the lead after 24 minutes when nodding home from Pedro’s corner and after Weligton scored with a header of his own for Malaga after 38 minutes, Helder Rosario was the fall guy as he scored an own goal (53).
The result sees Sporting move out of the bottom three by virtue of a superior head-to-head record against Osasuna, who join Numancia and Recreativo Huelva in the relegation zone.
The bottom two clubs met at Los Pajaritos and Numancia took all three points thanks to a late penalty from Jose Barkero, meaning they are now two points adrift of safety with Recre a further two back with two games remaining.
Espanyol are four points clear of danger though following a 1-0 win at home to Athletic Bilbao, with a Luis Garcia penalty (69) enough for the Catalan side to claim a crucial victory.
Real Betis also secured an important result as a 2-0 victory over Almeria leaves them one behind Espanyol in 15th.
Former Liverpool winger Mark Gonzalez (6) and Arzu (65) were on the scoresheet while Almeria had Jose Manuel Chico dismissed in the first half.
Racing Santander look to be assured of top flight football for next season after a 3-2 win against Valladolid that leaves them five clear of relegation.
Reported Premier League target Nikola Zigic scored the winner after 86 minutes, with Jonathan (60) drawing Racing level after Oscar Serrano’s opener (5) had been countered by goals from Manuel Victor (14) and Henok Goitom (22).
Valladolid also had Jauregi Inaki Bea dismissed after 49 minutes.