Getafe suffer European setback

Getafe’s European hopes suffered a blow after they were held 0-0 away to relegation-threatened Valladolid in La Liga on Sunday.

The home side have discovered a new steel under coach Javier Clemente and stretched their unbeaten run in the league to five games after they more than held their own in a hard-fought clash with few chances.

The best opportunity of the first half fell to Valladolid defender Nivaldo Batista who unmarked headed wide from close range.

There were plenty of fouls and errors, and David Cortes was dismissed shortly before the hour mark for a second yellow card.

Valladolid could have won the match with a powerful strike from Pele which came back off the post.

The goalless draw is a result of little use for either side as it leaves Getafe a point off sixth place and Valladolid deep in trouble.

Tenerife beat Racing Santander 2-1 but remain in the bottom three after Malaga drew 1-1 with Sporting Gijon.

A fine header from Roman Martinez put Tenerife in front and Ayoze Garcia added to the lead from the penalty spot before Xisco Jimenez pulled a goal back.

Malaga meanwhile are above the relegation zone on goal difference thanks to a strike from Salvador Caicedo which cancelled out an own goal from Antonio Apoño.

A late injury time header from Mario Bermejo saw bottom side Xerez beat Almeria 2-1 but they are still five points from safety. Emiliano Armenteros put Xerez ahead with Fernando Soriano equalising before Bermejo’s late show.

Deportivo La Coruna’s dismal run continued as they were beaten 1-0 at home with Adrian Colunga scoring the only goal of the game.

Later Saturday, Barcelona cannot afford a hangover from their Champions League exit as they face a difficult away trip to Villarreal.

Barça go into the final four games of the season with a one-point advantage over their bitter rivals Real Madrid, but their morale is at low ebb after the team went out to Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday.

Barça coach Pep Guardiola has tried to take the pressure off his players by saying the match will not decide the title.

“We will find out who wins the league in the penultimate or last match. Villarreal are a good side that always cause us problems and our defeat in Europe has not helped us but I have faith in my players,” he said.

Real coach Manuel Pellegrini agreed that there will be plenty of points still to play for even after this weekend.

“The team which is leading obviously has more chances of winning the league but from now on all the games are going to be difficult as teams are fighting for European places or against relegation,” he said.

“The key now is to keep playing at a high level in the games left.”

Third-placed Valencia have a tough away match at Espanyol but the real fight is taking place below them for the final Champions League position.

Inconsistency from both Mallorca and Sevilla means the battle is wide open.

Last weekend Mallorca could only draw at home to Malaga while Sevilla crashed away at Getafe.

This weekend Mallorca travel to Athletic Bilbao while Sevilla face Atletico Madrid, and both must now be wary of the threat from Villarreal.