Valencia eye Europe as rivals stumble

Valencia set their sights on a top-four Spanish League finish, and a Champions League spot, on Sunday after brushing aside struggling Getafe 4-1.

They are now just two points off fourth-placed Villarreal thanks to two penalties by David Villa in either half and strikes from Juan Mata and Raul Albiol.

Getafe's goal also came from a spot-kick with Francisco Casquero converting at the start of the second half, but they were never able to cause any sustained danger to Valencia's makeshift defence missing Carlos Marchena and Alexis Ruano.

"We still have a long way to go in order to make up for the points that we have dropped this season and so two wins does not make everything okay," said Valencia coach Unai Emery.

"But we are satisfied with the game though and we need to keep going."

It has been a good weekend for Valencia with all the teams around them losing ground in the battle for European places.

Atletico Madrid's inconsistency continued as they crashed to a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Osasuna.

Walter Pandiani gave the away side the lead after just seven minutes and while Diego Forlan equalised, Osasuna took full advantage of Atletico's defensive frailties.

Krisztian Vadocz restored their lead and then, after the break, Pandiani scored again. Masoud Shojaei piled on the misery for the home side who pulled back a consolation through Pablo Ibanez.

"It was a very bad game and we were never in control, maybe it was because we were too anxious. We have found it difficult against supposedly weaker teams and it shouldn't be like that," said Atletico coach Abel Resino.

"Without making it into an excuse though the crowd have shown no backing to some players."

At the other end of the table, Espanyol boosted their survival hopes with a 3-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna.

BARCELONA, April 5, 2009, AFP