In-form Espanyol boosted their survival hopes and at the same time put a huge dent in Valencia's Champions League hopes with a convinc-ing3-0victoryonSunday.

Second half goals from Roman Martinez, Nicolas Pareja and Nene made it 16 points from 18 for Espanyol

who climb four points above the relegation zone. For Valencia it was a major setback as they missed a golden opportunity to pull away from Villarreal, a point behind in fifth, who lost 2-0 against Sevilla on Saturday.

Atletico Madrid capitalised on Valencia's slip with a 2-0 win over Real Beds to move a point behind their rivals.

Uruguayan international Diego Forlan scored both goals to take his season's tally to 25 just two behind the league's top-scorer Samuel Eto'o.

Deportivo La Coruna are still in with an outside shot of Champions League football

defeating Valladolid 1-0 on Sunday to move three points behind Valencia.

New Getafe coach Michel tasted defeat in his first match in charge losing 2-1 to Real Mallorca on Sunday to leave the club staring relegation in the face.

A disastrous mistake from Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic, on loan from Portugueses giants Sporting Lisbon, gifted Mallorca the winning goal on 68 minutes with Aritz Aduriz pouncing on his slack goalkick to slothome.

Recretivo Huelva scored a crucial late winner to down relegation rivals Osasuna 2-1 on Sunday and are now just a point from safety.

Defender Nasief Morris scored a brilliant volleyed winner in the dying seconds of the match to boost Recce's chances of staying up. Osasuna stay two points above the bottom three after the defeat.

Sporting Gijon were frustrated by a late equaliser in a 1 - f draw with Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Incredibly it was Sporting's first draw of the season and they are now level on points with Getafe who occupy the final safety spot.