Valencia suffers shock loss at Osasuna
Source: Agencies |
May 3, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Valencia's bid to secure third spot in Spanish La Liga and an automatic place in next season's UEFA Champions League suffered a setback when it lost 0-1 at relegation-threatened Osasuna on Sunday.
The defeat in Pamplona and Villarreal's 2-1 comeback win at home to Getafe left Valencia, thrashed 3-6 at home by Real Madrid last weekend, on 63 points and Villarreal in fourth on 60 with four games left.
"I think today's result was extremely important for many reasons," Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido, whose side was thumped 1-5 at Porto in last Thursday's Europa League semifinal first leg, said.
"Principally for the mental strength that we demonstrated after such a tough game on Thursday. We deserve to play in the Champions League next season and we are fighting for that with all our strength."
Osasuna secured a potentially crucial three points at its Reyno de Navarra Stadium when a speculative 59th-minute strike by Alvaro Cejudo struck Valencia defender Marius Stankevicius on the back and ricocheted into the net.
Valencia had plenty of possession but was unable to convert it into an equalizer and Osasuna held on to climb out of the relegation places.
Leader Barcelona and second-placed Real Madrid, which meet in today's Champions League semifinal second leg with Barcelona holding a 2-0 advantage, rested key players and were both beaten on Saturday.
Barcelona, which has an eight-point lead over its arch-rival, lost 1-2 at Real Sociedad and Real suffered a 2-3 home reverse to struggling Real Zaragoza.
Sevilla improved its chances of qualifying for next season's Europa League and climbed back above Atletico Madrid into fifth when a Renato header gave it a 1-0 win at 10-man Almeria earlier on Sunday.
The victory over its Andalusian rival, which is bottom of the table and on the verge of relegation, lifted it to 52 points with four games left.
Atletico also has 52 after a 1-0 win at Deportivo Coruna on Saturday.
The defeat in Pamplona and Villarreal's 2-1 comeback win at home to Getafe left Valencia, thrashed 3-6 at home by Real Madrid last weekend, on 63 points and Villarreal in fourth on 60 with four games left.
"I think today's result was extremely important for many reasons," Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido, whose side was thumped 1-5 at Porto in last Thursday's Europa League semifinal first leg, said.
"Principally for the mental strength that we demonstrated after such a tough game on Thursday. We deserve to play in the Champions League next season and we are fighting for that with all our strength."
Osasuna secured a potentially crucial three points at its Reyno de Navarra Stadium when a speculative 59th-minute strike by Alvaro Cejudo struck Valencia defender Marius Stankevicius on the back and ricocheted into the net.
Valencia had plenty of possession but was unable to convert it into an equalizer and Osasuna held on to climb out of the relegation places.
Leader Barcelona and second-placed Real Madrid, which meet in today's Champions League semifinal second leg with Barcelona holding a 2-0 advantage, rested key players and were both beaten on Saturday.
Barcelona, which has an eight-point lead over its arch-rival, lost 1-2 at Real Sociedad and Real suffered a 2-3 home reverse to struggling Real Zaragoza.
Sevilla improved its chances of qualifying for next season's Europa League and climbed back above Atletico Madrid into fifth when a Renato header gave it a 1-0 win at 10-man Almeria earlier on Sunday.
The victory over its Andalusian rival, which is bottom of the table and on the verge of relegation, lifted it to 52 points with four games left.
Atletico also has 52 after a 1-0 win at Deportivo Coruna on Saturday.
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