Espanyol escape relegation, Sevilla beat Barca

MADRID, May 14: King's Cup winners Espanyol escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth after a dramatic stoppage time goal from midfielder Ferran Corominas earned them a 1-0 win at home to Real Sociedad.

Fellow strugglers Alaves looked as if they were the team that would avoid the drop after they took a 1-0 lead against Deportivo Coruna, but Corominas's late strike destroyed their hopes of survival and sent the Basque team down yesterday.

Dimitry Piterman's side will join Malaga and Cadiz in the second division next season.

UEFA Cup winners Sevilla continued a week of celebrations and boosted their hopes of earning a place in the Champions League when they beat a second string Barcelona 3-2.

Barca, resting eight first choice players for Wednesday's Champions League final against Arsenal, fought back from two goals down to level at 2-2, but a late strike from Sevilla striker Kepa earned the home side a vital win.

The victory put the Andalucians into fifth place in the table, level on 65 points with Osasuna. Valencia are in third on 69 points and Real Madrid are second on 70, 12 behind champions Barcelona.

Osasuna host third-placed Valencia and Sevilla entertain second-placed Real Madrid on Tuesday with the runners-up spot and the final Champions League berth still at stake.

Villarreal, who lost to Arsenal in the semi-final of the Champions League, beat Racing Santander 2-0 at home to guarantee themselves a seventh-place finish and a berth in the Intertoto Cup.

REUTERS