Espanyol end Atletico’s home run
MADRID :Atletico Madrid suffered a hangover from reaching the Europa League final in midweek as they slumped to a surprise 2-0 defeat at home to Espanyol on Sunday, losing for the first time in La Liga at their Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
Midfielder Oscar Melendo put Espanyol ahead after 53 minutes with the help of a huge deflection off Atletico defender Stefan Savic and Brazilian forward Leo Baptistao doubled the lead with a thumping low drive from outside the area against his old side.
Espanyol are 15th in the standings and had only won one of their previous seven games, making them unlikely candidates to become the first team to beat Atletico in the league since their 68,000-capacity stadium opened in September.
Atletico are second on 75 points, 11 behind champions Barcelona.
VILLARREAL BOOST EUROPA LEAGUE HOPES
MADRID: Villarreal moved to within touching distance of qualifying for the Europa League after Mario Gaspar scored a late winner to beat rivals Valencia.
Gaspar headed in Manuel Trigueros’ free-kick in the 86th minute at Estadio de la Ceramica to secure a dramatic 1-0 win over Valencia, who have also sealed their place in next season’s Champions League.
Valencia’s place in the top four was guaranteed even before kick-off after Real Betis had earlier lost to Athletic Bilbao.
Villarreal’s victory means they will be guaranteed to finish in La Liga’s top seven if Getafe, in eighth, fail to beat Las Palmas.
This season, the team that finishes seventh in the table will also qualify for the Europa League, as well as fifth and sixth, after Barcelona won the Copa del Rey. Valencia had the better of the chances in the first half but Santi Mina missed a one-on-one with Sergio Asenjo and they were made to pay the price.
XAVI TO PLAY ON UNTIL AT LEAST END OF YEAR
DOHA: Legendary former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez has upset his own plans to retire and announced he will extend his career until at least the end of this year, he said on Sunday. “I have decided to continue at least six months more,” said the 38-year-old, who now plays for Qatar’s Al Sadd.