valencia-soccer news

Mallorca muffle Valencia for Barca to claim title

Real Mallorca took a big step toward avoiding relegation and inadvertently handed Barcelona their 18th La Liga title when they beat Valencia 2-1 in the Spanish La Liga on Wednesday (03/05).

Goals from Venezuelan striker Juan Arango and Italian defender Cristiano Doni proved to be the difference between the two sides, although Miguel Angel Angulo's first half equaliser gave Valencia some hope of delaying Barca's celebrations, at least until the weekend.

Mallorca remain four points above the drop zone, but there are now only two games left in Spain's domestic season.

Valencia travelled to the Estadio Son Moix in Mallorca on Wednesday knowing that anything less than a win would extinguish their slim La Liga title hopes and hand Barcelona their 18th title.

But they were up against a Real Mallorca side who were battling for their lives at the other end of the table and they broke through the most frugal defence in the league in only the ninth minute.

Victor Castano evaded two Valencia tackles before slipping the ball to Venezuelan striker Juan Arango, who tucked in his tenth goal of the season.

Valencia equalised eight minutes later in a move started and finished by Miguel Angel Angulo - however, in between David Villa appeared to handle the ball in getting past Jose Carlos Nunes.

The referee waved play on and Angulo duly scored, but the replay clearly showed Villa's infringement, which really ought to have been picked up by the officials.

The lively Jonas Gutierrez then had a shot kicked off the line by Valencia right back Miguel as Mallorca regained the initiative, but Valencia survived to the interval.

Parity lasted just 110 seconds into the second half though, after David Cortes' speculative ball into the Valencia penalty area was volleyed home with aplomb by Italian midfielder Cristiano Doni - Santiago Canizares in the Valencia goal was given no chance.

Valencia tried to ring the changes and raise their game, but it all came to nothing as the Mallorca defence for once this season held firm - they survived a Valencia set piece with four minute to go and soon after secured just their ninth win in 36 games.

Three precious points took Mallorca to 40, points, but they are still not yet out of trouble as Alaves, the team occupying the third relegation spot, beat Real Betis 2-0.

But they remain four points clear of the drop zone, with just two games to go in the domestic season.

Valencia saw their title hopes evaporate, and can now be caught by Real Madrid for La Liga's second automatic Champions' League spot.