Freefalling Valencia slip further off Champions League pace

Debt-ridden Valencia watched their Champions League cash lifeline slip further away on Sunday when a 2-1 defeat to relegation strugglers Numancia left the troubled club six points off the top four.

It was a ninth defeat of the season for Valencia, who continue to be poor travellers failing to win away from home since the beginning of November.

Valencia have been unable to pay their players on time due to acute financial problems and after a great start their league form has dipped and they are not even in the European spots after falling to eighth.

"The only way to come out of this is through hard work," said Valencia coach Unai Emery. "We need to get back to winning ways - starting now."

Deportivo La Coruna took advantage with a 5-3 win over Racing Santander to climb to within three points of Villarreal who are in fourth place.

"In the first half we made the mistake of doing exactly what they wanted," explained Deportivo coach Miguel Angel Lotina.

"We changed our method of attacking in the second half (when they scored four goals) and it helped us to win the game."

Promoted Malaga are level on points with Deportivo after beating Getafe 2-1 to maintain their surprise European push.

Sevilla look a good bet for the Champions League following a 2-1 home win over Almeria on Sunday as they bounced back from their midweek Kings Cup semi-final defeat to Athletic Bilbao.

Freddy Kanoute and Renato provided the goals for Sevilla, who survived a late onslaught after Alvaro Negredo reduced arrears from the penalty spot with 20 minutes left.

Sevilla stay third five points better off than Villarreal and eight points ahead of Deportivo.

However, Argentine winger Diego Perotti said Sevilla were looking up at Real, seven points ahead in second, rather than what is going on behind them.

"We wanted to put pressure on the teams above us (Real Madrid and Barcelona) with these three points," said Perotti. "We can try to catch Real if we continue like this."

Valencia had to do without 19-goal top-scorer David Villa because of a knee injury but were favourites against a Numancia team that propped up the table before kick-off.

Winger Vicente put Valencia in front after just nine minutes but Numancia replied through Carlos Aranda shortly before half-time.

A Jose Bakero free-kick just after the break then put Numancia ahead and they held on for a first win in two months.

Numancia move off the bottom at the expense of Espanyol and closed in on third from bottom Osasuna, who lost 2-1 against Sporting Gijon.

Real Madrid are doing their best to catch Barcelona this season but the champions dropped two valuable points in a 1-1 derby draw with Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

Real fell six points behind Barcelona and now switch their attention to Tuesday's Champions League duel with Liverpool at Anfield where they need to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit.

Veteran defender Michel Salgado won at Anfield as a Celta Vigo player in a 1998/1999 last 16 UEFA Cup match and said there was no reason why Real couldn't win at Anfield.

"Anfield's atmosphere makes you do your best, which is why I've been saying it's possible to win there, especially if you are Real Madrid," explained Salgado.

After three league games without a win Barcelona defeated fellow Kings Cup finalists Bilbao 2-0 on Saturday to extend their lead over Real by two points.

The leaders face Lyon in their Champions League match at Camp Nou on Wednesday with the tie evenly-poised at 1-1.

"Wednesday's game is a simple knock-out game - there are no second chances," said midfielder Sergi Busquets. "We'll be studying Lyon before the match and if we put in the work we've got a good chance."