Atletico prepare for Liverpool game with Tenerife win

A brace from Argentine youngster Eduardo Salvio helped Atletico Madrid warm up for their Europa League clash against Liverpool on Thursday with a 3-1 victory over Tenerife.

With nothing left to play for in the league, Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores chose to rest players ahead of the match at Anfield with his side leading 1-0 from the first leg.

It meant giving striker Salvio his first starting place since moving from Lanus in Argentina in January and he responded with his first goals for the club as Atletico dominated.

After the break Tenerife, with the chance to leave the relegation zone with a win, responded with Roman Martinez pulling a goal back but Sergio Aguero put the game beyond them with a goal after 77 minutes.

An injury-time equaliser from Aritz Aduriz salvaged a point for Champions League chasing Mallorca, who drew 1-1 with Malaga in a game which they should have won comfortably.

The Oni Stadi has been a fortress for Mallorca this season where they have only lost twice but they were very nearly beaten again by relegation threatened Malaga.

Mallorca dominated the contest but profligate finishing and dogged defending saw Malaga keep them at bay. Shortly before half time Malaga defender Milan Stepanov was dismissed for a handball but Gustavo Munua saved the subsequent penalty taken by Gonzalo Castro.

Victor Obinna stunned the stadium, scoring against the run of play, and although Aduriz grabbed a 91st minute equaliser it still means that Sevilla, who play later against Getafe, can move above them into fourth with a win.

Sixth-placed Villarreal came from behind to beat Racing Santander 2-1 to boost their hopes of qualifying for a place in the Europa League.

Sergio Canales put Racing ahead with a fine shot but Villarreal deservedly turned the game around with strikes from Diego Godin and Nilmar Honorato.

On Monday, Athletic Bilbao can draw level with Villarreal if they beat Osasuna.

Mateus Manucho and Javier Baraja were both on target for third-from-bottom Valladolid who secured an important 2-0 win away at Sporting Gijon.

Espanyol put distance between themselves and the relegation zone with a 1-0 away win at Almeria with Luis Garcia hitting the target.

The gap at the top of the table remains just one point with Real Madrid beating Zaragoza 2-1 Sunday after Barcelona had earlier defeated Xerez 3-1.

It was a nervous performance from Barça, who nonetheless beat the league’s bottom side with goals from Jeffren Isaias, Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Mario Bermejo scored for the visitors who lost their composure in the final minutes with Matias Alustiza and Fabian Orellana both dismissed.

Brazilian midfielder Kaka came off the bench, following a six-week injury absence, to grab the winner for Real Madrid after Zaragoza’s Adrian Colunga had cancelled out a Raul Gonzalez opener.

Valencia consolidated their third position with a 1-0 victory over Deportivo la Coruna thanks to a first-half penalty converted by David Villa.