Atletico secure place in Champions League

By Simon Baskett

MADRID (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid secured a place in the Champions League qualifiers on Sunday after a goal from Diego Forlan earned them a 1-0 win over Deportivo Coruna and ensured they could finish no lower than fourth in the table.

The Uruguayan striker grabbed the winner when he fired a first-time shot under the keeper at the near post after Maxi Rodriguez had cut the ball back from the byline on the stroke of halftime.

Atletico's last appearance in the Champions League was in the 1996-97 season when they reached the quarter-finals.

Barcelona, who were thumped 4-1 by arch-rivals Real Madrid in midweek, suffered yet another humiliating defeat when they surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to Real Mallorca in Frank Rijkaard's last game at the Nou Camp.

Mallorca striker Dani Guiza scored his 26th goal of the season to secure the islanders a stoppage-time win and spark a new round of protests from the discontented Barca fans.

Atletico are now level on 64 points with Barca, but are in fourth because the Catalans have a better record in head-to-heads.

Sevilla, who won 2-0 away at city rivals Real Betis, are in fifth three points further back but cannot overtake either Barca or Atletico although they are guaranteed a place in the UEFA Cup.

Champions Real Madrid were held to a 2-2 draw at Real Zaragoza who dropped into the relegation zone after fellow strugglers Osasuna and Recreativo Huelva both managed to notch up priceless victories.