Nine-man Valencia vanquished by Atlético

Third-placed Liga high-flyers Valencia CF had two players sent off as they suffered a 4-1 reverse at Club Atlético de Madrid, allowing Sevilla FC to close within three points despite a frustrating goalless draw at home with Athletic Club.

Valencia actually took the lead in the capital with a fine solo effort from David Silva on 20 minutes, but the evening began to unravel for the visitors when Carlos Marchena was dismissed for a handball just before the half-hour, with Diego Forlán promptly converting the resultant penalty.

They resisted valiantly after that until cracking with 12 minutes remaining when Sergio Agüero headed in from a corner, and five minutes later Luís Miguel suffered the same fate as Marchena. That helped Forlán and José Manuel Jurado secure the triumph with late efforts, lifting Atlético up to 11th.

Fourth-placed Sevilla closed the gap on Valencia by one point after surviving with ten players for 38 minutes following the dismissal Ndri Romaric in their meeting with Athletic Club. A further three points behind in fifth are RCD Mallorca after they ran out 2-1 winners at Real Valladolid, substitute Julio Álvarez scoring the clincher seven minutes from time.

At the other end of the table, Xerez CD remain bottom following a 1-1 draw with RCD Espanyol. Real Racing Club did little to stave off their own relegation concerns, losing 2-0 at home to UD Almería, while Real Sporting de Gijón beat CA Osasuna 3-2 and Villarreal CF triumphed 1-0 over sixth-placed RC Deportivo La Coruña.