Valencia stay in hunt

Los Che had to win the match to have any chance of finishing top with three games left in the season after this weekend - and with the three teams above them also playing away from home against tricky opposition on Sunday, knew that three points might just be a catalyst for an unexpected triumph.

They had to wait until the last seconds of the match to break down a stubborn and inventive Mallorca team who hit the woodwork twice.

Guillermo Pereyra lost the ball in the first minutes, David Villa picking up possession in the centre of the pitch. He immediately looked for a slippery through-ball as Miguel Angulo advanced; it was inch-perfect, but the veteran attacking midfielder could not take it past Miguel Angel Moya in the home goal.

Halfway through the opening period Joaquin was scythed down by former Barcelona defender Fernando Navarro and won a free-kick out on the right. David Silva sent across a dangerous low cross and Angulo almost managed to convert at the far post, but it was a fraction ahead of him.

Joaquin was involved in the most threatening passages of play as Villa struggled without service in attack.

Mallorca, supported by a vocal home crowd, arrived for the second half intent on continuing their recent good form. Prior to the game they had won four matches on the trot, elevating them to 11th in the table and only two points behind Recreativo in seventh.

However it was Valencia who had the first chance, Angulo crossing low for Joaquin to hit a decent first-time effort that was kept out by Moya.

Former Atletico Madrid playmaker Ariel Ibagaza was at the heart of the home revival and was helped by Juan Valera moments later to find a way into the box. His skill put Albelda on his backside and he tried to flick the ball over Santiago Canizares; unfortunately for him, the veteran 'keeper managed to block.

Ibagaza next fed Juan Arango, who hit a clean shot from the edge of the box that the blonde shot-stopper again kept out.

Villa struck a low shot towards the bottom corner that Moya tipped around the post as Valencia reminded the island fans that they were no pushovers, yet it was a substitute for Mallorca that came closest before the denouement.

Bosko Jankovic, introduced with about 20 minutes left on the clock, hit a free-kick off the outside of the post with his first touch and then minutes later crashed an unstoppable drive from an angle on the left against the crossbar.

Joaquin settled matters as injury time approached, finishing from close range after a low Villa pass into the area was flicked on by substitute Jorge Lopez.

In Seville Real Betis and soon-to-be-relegated Nastic of Tarragona shared a 1-1 draw, although the score-line read 0-0 until the 89th minute.

After Johann Vogel had been sent off for the home team, Javier Portillo slammed home the penalty kick for Nastic.

However Jose Isidoro found Juanito in the box a minute later for Betis and Xisco arrived to equalise.

Athletic Bilbao will be looking over their shoulders on Sunday evening after losing 4-3 away to Real Zaragoza.

In contrast with the near-stalemates earlier in the evening, the match had a steady flow of goals from the 17th minute when Zaragoza striker Diego Milito attacked from the right side and thumped a shot inside the near post of Daniel Aranzubia.

Athletic barely had time to consider that goal before a second was added by a thunderous low shot by Carlos Diogo, which went in off the far post.

Athletic striker Aduriz, who scored a hat-trick by the end, muscled Sergio off the ball and finished past Cesar Sanchez to reduce the arrears; a minute later the exact same situation occurred, although this time the defender hauled him down in the box. The referee waved away the penalty claims.

A minute after that and the lead was restored. The diminutive Pablo Aimar played in Sergio Garcia, who put the ball into the top corner with aplomb.

Right on half time the score became 4-1 when an Andres d'Alessandro free-kick was put through his own net by Ander Murillo.

In the second half Joseba Exteberria arrived into the action and won a debatable penalty. Aduriz scored into the bottom corner then headed home a corner kick to set up a climactic finish.

It never really arrived as the Basque outfit were forced to endure gamesmanship from the Zaragoza players.

The match they will be interested in tomorrow is Real Sociedad versus Celta Vigo – immediately below them and both four points behind currently and in the relegation zone, with a game in hand.