12/04/2004
Real lose top spot after home defeat of season

MADRID, April 11 (Reuters) - Real Madrid ended a confidence-shattering week with their first home defeat of the season on Sunday, a 3-0 whipping by Osasuna which allowed Valencia to take over at the top of the Primera Liga.

Real, who were knocked out of the Champions League after a shock 3-1 quarter-final defeat at Monaco on Tuesday, could hardly have got off to a worse start at the Bernabeu when they went a goal down in the second minute through Valdo.

The champions were 2-0 down at the break and also lost Brazilian striker Ronaldo with an injury in the first half. The crowd whistled and waved white handkerchiefs, signifying surrender, after the third goal from Moha.

Valencia replaced the champions after midfielder Miguel Angel Angulo scored a second-half header to earn a 1-0 win at Cup winners Real Zaragoza. Real had held the league lead since January 19.

With just six games remaining Valencia lead the standings on 69 points. Real follow on 67 while Deportivo Coruna, who won 2-0 at Villarreal, are a distant third on 60.

Barcelona, who extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches with a 3-1 win at Valladolid on Saturday, are a point behind in fourth.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Valdo cracked in unmarked at the far post when John Aloisi flicked the ball into his path after a long throw-in had sown panic in the Real defence early on.

Valdo could have added another a few minutes later after he was given room at the near post, but this time he sent a sharp header a metre wide of the goal.

Real responded by pouring forward into attack but despite creating a handful of good chances they were unable to get the ball in the net.

Ronaldo was forced to leave the pitch with what appeared to be a hamstring injury after he pulled up after chasing the ball midway through the half.

DEFENSIVE ERROR

Things went from bad to worse before the break when Osasuna went 2-0 up after yet another error in the Real defence.

Goalkeeper Iker Casillas came out to collect another long throw-in from Osasuna on the edge of the area, but only succeeded in palming it down to the feet of Pablo Garcia who calmly looped a shot over the Real keeper and into the net.

Osasuna completed the rout on the hour when Moha completed a text book counter-attack by heading in at the far post after Valdo raced down the wing and clipped in a perfect pass over the Real defence.

Athletic Bilbao gained the edge in the race for a UEFA Cup place after a last gasp strike from midfielder Francisco Yeste gave the Basque side a 2-1 win at Racing Santander and lifted them to fifth on 48 points.

At the other end of the table, Murcia are almost certain to be relegated after a 2-0 defeat at Real Sociedad. John Toshack's side are now 16 points adrift of safety with only six matches left.