MADRID, May 11 (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid secured a place
in the Champions League qualifiers on Sunday after a goal from
Diego Forlan earned them a 1-0 win over Deportivo Coruna and
ensured they could finish no lower than fourth in the table.
The Uruguayan striker grabbed the winner when he fired a
first-time shot under the keeper at the near post after Maxi
Rodriguez had cut the ball back from the byline on the stroke of
halftime.
Atletico's last appearance in the Champions League was in
the 1996-97 season when they reached the quarter-finals.
Barcelona, who were thumped 4-1 by arch-rivals Real Madrid
in midweek, suffered yet another humiliating defeat when they
surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to Real Mallorca
in Frank Rijkaard's last game at the Nou Camp.
Mallorca striker Dani Guiza scored his 26th goal of the
season to secure the islanders a stoppage-time win and spark a
new round of protests from the discontented Barca fans.
Atletico are now level on 64 points with Barca, but are in
fourth because the Catalans have a better record in
head-to-heads.
Sevilla, who won 2-0 away at city rivals Real Betis, are in
fifth three points further back but cannot overtake either Barca
or Atletico although they are guaranteed a place in the UEFA
Cup.
Champions Real Madrid were held to a 2-2 draw at Real
Zaragoza who dropped into the relegation zone after fellow
strugglers Osasuna and Recreativo Huelva both managed to notch
up priceless victories.
Osasuna beat relegated Real Murcia 2-1 at home and
Recreativo won 2-0 at Almeria.
Zaragoza took an early lead through Brazilian striker
Ricardo Oliveira, but Real hit back with goals from Ruud van
Nistelrooy and Robinho to go 2-1 up with 13 minutes to go.
But a rare goal from centre-back Sergio earned Zaragoza a
draw that boosted their hopes of survival.
With one game to go Zaragoza, Osasuna, Recreativo and
Valladolid can all still go down.
Zaragoza occupy the final relegation spot on 42 points, one
behind Osasuna and Recreativo and two adrift of Valladolid.
Recre host Valladolid in the final game of the season,
Zaragoza travel to Mallorca and Osasuna are away to Racing.
Valencia ensured their survival with a 5-1 thrashing of
relegated neighbours Levante, featuring a hat-trick from Spain
striker David Villa, while Getafe's 0-0 draw against Valladolid
was enough to keep them up.
Barcelona were jeered on to the pitch following their
crushing defeat at the Bernabeu, but they looked to be heading
for a comfortable win after goals from Thierry Henry and Samuel
Eto'o put them 2-0 up 10 minutes into the second half.
But Mallorca pulled one back when Borja Valero beat Jose
Manuel Pinto with a deflected shot and the islanders equalised a
few minutes later when striker Pierre Webo dinked a shot into
the ground and over the keeper's head.
Primera Liga leading scorer Guiza grabbed the win with his
94th-minute strike and the Barca fans reacted angrily with
further protests and calls for the resignation of club president
Joan Laporta.
