Nine-man Valencia collapse against Atletico

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MADRID, March 1, 2010 (AFP) - Nine-man Valencia crashed to their fourth defeat of the season falling to a 4-1 loss at Atletico Madrid on Sunday with the dismissal of Spanish international defender Carlos Marchena turning the game on its head.

Sevilla's scoreless draw with Athletic Bilbao meant Valencia could open up a six-point gap over their rivals and it looked promising when David Silva stroked in the opener on 20 minutes.

However, the turning point came on 29 minutes when Marchena was sent off for handling in the penalty area and Diego Forlan converted the penalty kick.

Valencia could not cope with playing two thirds of the match with one man less and Argentine Sergio "Kun" Aguero headed a second for Atletico on 77 minutes before Forlan grabbed his second five minutes from time.

Valencia had also had Portuguese full-back Luis Miguel sent off in the 81st minute and Atletico made it three goals in 13 minutes as Jose Jurado scored in stoppage time.

Atletico climb to 11th with the win but are still eight points off the top six and 13 points off the top four.

Ten-man Sevilla moved to within three points of Valencia but that could not overshadow a disappointing 0-0 home draw against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Sevilla were handicapped by the dismissal of Ivory Coast international midfielder Koffi Romaric on 51 minutes for hauling down his man after losing possession.

"He (Romaric) didn't have to risk so much but we don't look at players under the microscope," said Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez. "It is a pity because it is a game we should have won. Our target is third place and this point is not enough for us."

It was the first time since October that Sevilla had failed to score at home in the league and it was more points dropped at home but the only consolation they can take is that Valencia came home empty-handed from Madrid.

Earlier Villarreal bounced back from heavy defeats to Real Madrid and Wolfsburg with a 1-0 home victory over Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday to move six points off the European places.

Villarreal had been thrashed 6-2 by Real in the league and then 4-1 by German champions Wolfsburg in the Europa League so needed a shot in the arm and got it with a clean sheet and three points thanks to Joseba Llorente's 35th minute goal.

A quickly-taken free-kick caught Depor off-guard as Ariel Ibagaza released Nilmar whose shot across goal was finished off by Llorente as Villarreal climbed to eighth.

Depor fall to sixth following their eighth defeat of the campaign with Real Mallorca climbing above them into fifth thanks to a late 2-1 comeback win at Valladolid.

An 83rd minute winner from Julio Alvarez clinched only Mallorca's second away win of the season to keep up their European push although their coach Gregorio Manzano said he was relieved to reach the 40 point mark which usually guarantees safety,

"We have reached 40 points and now we have to try and fight until the end to get the team into Europe although there is a long way to go," said Manzano.

At the other end of the table bottom side Xerez drew 1-1 with Espanyol although the point does little for their survival hopes with the club 12 points from safety.

On Saturday Barcelona maintained their two-point gap over Real Madrid at the summit with a 2-1 home win over Malaga that didn't reflect their dominance.

"All games are important and from here to the end of the season, we have to make sure we make no mistakes," said Barca midfielder Andres Iniesta. "We have to try and win every game and the good thing is that we won and we are top."

Real were convincing winners crushing Tenerife 5-1 to make it 11 goals in their last two league matches.