Valencia close on title with 2-0 win over Betis
Valencia closed in on their second Spanish title in three seasons after they opened a four-point gap at the top of the standings thanks to an emphatic 2-0 win at home to Real Betis on Sunday.
Valencia closed in on their second Spanish title in three seasons after they opened a four-point gap at the top of the standings thanks to an emphatic 2-0 win at home to Real Betis on Sunday.
Goals either side of halftime from defender Curro Torres and rugged midfielder Ruben Baraja gave Valencia a deserved victory and put them firmly in the driving seat as the title race reaches its climax.
With three games to go Rafa Benitez's side lead the table on 74 points, followed by champions Real Madrid, who slumped to their second successive defeat on Saturday when they lost 2-0 at Deportivo Coruna, on 70.
Third-placed Barcelona are just a point behind Real on 69 after they stretched their unbeaten run to 17 games, coming from a goal down to claim a sparkling 4-1 win over struggling neighbours Espanyol.
Striker Raul Tamudo put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot on 19 minutes, but Ronaldinho produced yet another virtuoso display to help steer his side towards victory.
The Brazilian equalised with a fine glancing header on 35 minutes and then provided an exquisite backheel assist for Javier Saviola to put the Catalans ahead on the stroke of halftime.
Dutch defender Giovanni van Bronckhorst extended the lead when he curled in after a superbly worked passing move and Saviola completed the rout when he poked in at the far post after a Michael Reiziger pass before the hour was up.
Fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao remained on course for a place in next season's UEFA Cup despite losing 2-0 at Sevilla, and Atletico Madrid moved up to sixth after a breathless 3-2 win at home to relegation-threatened Celta Vigo on Saturday.
The fight for survival remains as intense as ever but Albacete and Real Mallorca went a long way to assuring their future in the top flight with important home wins.
Albacete beat fellow strugglers Real Zaragoza 3-1, while Mallorca owed their 2-1 victory over Malaga to a double from newly crowned African Player of the Year Samuel Eto'o.
Knowing that a win would put them four points clear of Real, Valencia subjected the visitors to intense pressure in midfield and laid siege to their opponents' goal for most of the first half.
Betis defender Washington Tais somehow managed to keep out a goal-bound header from Mista in the 16th minute and keeper Toni Prats pulled off a fine reflex save to deny the Valencia striker moments later.
But Betis were unable to hold out, finally giving way nine minutes before the break after a defensive mix-up.
Baraja hooked a pass towards the Betis area, Denilson failed to clear and the ball fell to Curro Torres who toe-poked past Prats to put his side into the lead.
The home side made sure of the win early in the second half when Baraja curled the ball into the net from the edge of the area after substitute Pablo Aimar had raced clear on the right and cut back a neat pass.
Valencia, who play regional rivals Villarreal in the second leg of a UEFA Cup semi-final on Thursday, had several chances to extend their lead but it mattered little to the 51,000 fans inside the Mestalla who were left celebrating a win that makes them firm favourites to win the title.