Madrid's miserable run continues

Unwanted record
Only one side will join title-winners Valencia CF in clinching a UEFA Champions League group stage place and avoiding the third qualifying round, and Madrid suffered a club-record fourth successive league defeat to slip two points behind Barcelona with one game left.

Madrid slump
Luis García - who joined Murcia from Madrid in the summer - scored the first goal on three minutes and then converted a penalty half an hour later. Madrid's problems were compounded before the break when David Beckham was dismissed for dissent, and Guti's last-gasp goal was little consolation.

Ronaldinho winner
Barcelona had earlier beaten Real Racing Club Santander 1-0. Ronaldinho scored from the penalty spot on 16 minutes, allowing his side to withstand Carles Puyol's second-half dismissal. Next Sunday, Barcelona travel to Real Zaragoza and Madrid welcome Real Sociedad de Fútbol.

Bilbao in Europe
Athletic Club Bilbao sealed UEFA Cup qualification - having missed out by one point for two seasons running - by beating CA Osasuna 2-1. Francisco Yeste scored on 46 minutes and Ismael Urzaiz added another just after an hour to ensure Valdo's late goal could not prevent victory.

Málaga miss out
Villarreal CF beat Valencia on Friday, and they hold sixth place behind Bilbao. In the race for the final UEFA Cup berth Villarreal are two points ahead of Sevilla FC - who beat Albacete Balompié 4-1 today - and Club Atlético de Madrid, who lost 2-1 to Zaragoza. Málaga CF are out of the running after drawing 1-1 with Real.

Espanyol escape foiled
RCD Espanyol missed the chance to condemn RC Celta de Vigo and Real Valladolid CF to relegation as they let a two-goal lead slip in a 4-2 defeat at Real Mallorca. Celta's 3-0 defeat by fourth-placed RC Deportivo La Coruña and Valladolid's 1-0 loss at the hands of Real Betis Balompié yesterday had ended Mallorca, Albacete, Zaragoza, Real and Racing's demotion fears, and victory for Espanyol would have sent Celta and Vallodolid down with Murcia.

Mallorca comeback
Espanyol's top-flight status seemed secure when Raúl Tamudo struck a seventh-minute penalty and doubled the lead 20 minutes later. However, Jesús Perera, Arnold Bruggink, Guillermo Pereyra and Gonzalo Colsa scored in the last half-hour to turn the game. Espanyol welcome Murcia next week while Valladolid take on Villarreal and Celta meet Mallorca.