Valladolid and Celta get that sinking feeling

Valladolid and Celta Vigo took a step closer to playing second division football next season after defeats against Real Betis and Sevilla.

Players from both losing sides left the pitch in tears knowing that if fourth-from bottom Espanyol beat Real Mallorca on Sunday they face the drop.

Ironically Celta Vigo, trounced 3-0 by Sevilla, find themselves in this unhappy predicament despite having mixed it with Europe's millionaires in the Champions League for the first time in their history this year.

Saturday's reverses left only Murcia, who face Real Madrid on Sunday, below Valladolid and Vigo with Espanyol one point off the relegation zone.

Deportivo knocked the stuffing out of Vigo early with all the goals from Sylvio Mendes "Sylvinho", Walter Pandiani and Munitis, coming inside the first half an hour.

Valladolid were undone by a late strike from Brazilian Assuncao.

On Friday newly crowned champions Valencia were beaten 2-1 at Villareal, according the hosts revenge for Valencia's victory over them in the UEFA Cup semi-finals earlier this month.

Saturday's other match between Atletico Madrid and Real Zaragoza was postponed 24 hours as a mark of respect for Atletico's former president Jesus Gil y Gil who died on Friday at the age of 71.

About 15,000 Atletico Madrid supporters payed their respects to their club's main shareholder at their Vicente Calderson stadium.

The former mayor of the Costa del Sol resort of Marbella died in hospital on after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Gil's coffin, draped with an Atletico Madrid flag, was put on show in the stadium to allow the supporters to walk past and pay their final respects.

The coffin was transported to a cemetery late in the afternoon where it was laid to rest close to those of other family members.