Atletico Madrid lost at the Wanda Metropolitano for the first time in La Liga as Espanyol snatched a surprise 2-0 victory yesterday. Oscar Melendo and Leo Baptistao each scored in the second half to end Atletico’s unbeaten run in the stadium they moved into at the start of the season.
Diego Simeone fielded a weakened team, presumably with one eye on the Europa League final later this month, as Antoine Griezmann, Diego Costa, Saul and Diego Godin were all absent from the starting line-up.
But Espanyol took full advantage, scoring the first goals Atletico have conceded at home since January, to climb to 15th in the table. “At no time did we hurt Espanyol,” Atletico defender Filipe Luis, who returned from injury, said after the match. “They have played a great game and we were never comfortable.”
On Saturday, Villarreal moved to within touching distance of qualifying for the Europa League after Mario Gaspar scored a late winner to beat rivals Valencia. 
Gaspar headed in Manuel Trigueros’ free-kick in the 86th minute at Estadio de la Ceramica to secure a dramatic 1-0 win over Valencia, who have also sealed their place in next season’s Champions League. Valencia’s place in the top four was guaranteed even before kick-off after Real Betis had earlier lost to Athletic Bilbao.
Villarreal’s victory meant they were guaranteed to finish in La Liga’s top seven as Getafe, in eighth, failed to beat Las Palmas yesterday. This season, the team that finishes seventh in the table will also qualify for the Europa League, as well as fifth and sixth, after Barcelona won the Copa del Rey.
Valencia had the better of the chances in the first half but Santi Mina missed a one-on-one with Sergio Asenjo and they were made to pay the price. Trigueros swung in a cross from the left and Gaspar rose highest at the front post, flicking the ball with his head into the far corner. Villarreal could still finish fifth after Athletic Bilbao beat Betis thanks to two goals in the final 15 minutes from Iker Muniain and Aritz Aduriz. 
Celta Vigo’s chances of playing European football next seasona are all-but over after they were held to a 1-1 draw by already-relegated Deportivo La Coruna. 
Girona’s hopes were also diminished by a 4-1 defeat at home to Eibar.
Spanish La Liga results
Malaga 0 Alaves 3 (Manu Garcia 3, Demirovic 68, Gomez 70); Atletico Madrid 0 Espanyol 2 (Melendo 53, Baptistao 77); Las Palmas 0 Getafe 1 (Angel 88)
Played Saturday: Girona 1 (Aday 55) Eibar 4 (Kike 9, 38, Joan Jordan 80, Inui 89); Athletic Bilbao 2 (Muniain 76, Aduriz 90+2) Real Betis 0 ; Celta Vigo 1 (Gomez 13) Deportivo La Coruna 1 (Perez 90+1); Villarreal 1 (Gaspar 86) Valencia 0




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