Barcelona reserves lose again, majestic Forlan keeps Atletico fourth

MADRID - Spanish champions Barcelona suffered their fifth defeat of the season, 1-0 at home to lowly Osasuna Saturday.

The same as last Sunday away to Mallorca, where they lost 2-1, Barca coach Josep Guardiola rested most of his first-teamers, ahead of next Wednesday’s Champions League final against Manchester United.

Samuel Eto’o again insisted on playing, in order to clinch the top scorers’ award, but failed to score and is now two goals behind Atletico Madrid’s Diego Forlan.

Osasuna needed to win to avoid the drop and did so thanks to a goal in the 26th minute from old warhorse Walter Pandiani, who headed in a near-post corner.

Barca’s teenage defender Marc Muniesa was sent off at the end.

“We had no choice but to win tonight,” said Osasuna’s match-winner Walter Pandiani, who was then disappointed to learn that the night’s other results left his team still in massive danger.

The tight defeat leaves Barca with 86 points from 37 games, eight points more than second-placed Real Madrid, who are at home to Mallorca in the only game scheduled Sunday.

Sevilla sealed third place Saturday by beating Deportivo Coruna 1-0, on a crucial late goal from Diego Perotti, and return to the Champions League after a year’s absence.

“It is wonderful to be back in the Champons,” said Sevilla winger Diego Capel.

“We deserve this third place,” he added, “because we have worked so hard throughout the season.”

Sevilla are three points ahead of fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, who enjoyed a 4-1 romp in Bilbao with a timely hat-trick from Forlan.

The Uruguayan hitman now has 31 goals, two more than Eto’o, and is on course to snatch the top marksman award from Eto’o - the same as he did in 2005.

Forlan denied that he was involved in a personal duel with Eto’o.

“It is not Samuel against me,” he said, “but Atletico Madrid’s trying to return to the Champions League.”

Atletico just need a draw in their last game, at home to midtable Almeria, to clinch fourth place and enter the Champions League preliminary round, the same as last season.

Atletico are two points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal, who beat local rivals Valencia 3-1 with two goals from Joseba Llorente and one from Cani.

Valencia are now sixth, without any hope of snatching fourth place.

Saturday was also a dramatic night at the bottom of the table, with Recreativo Huelva and Numancia relegated.

Huelva lost 1-0 at home to Santander, Numancia lost by the same score away to Getafe.

The third team to be relegated will be decided next Sunday, between Osasuna, Sporting Gijon, Betis and Getafe.

Osasuna and Gijon - who won 2-1 away to Valladolid - both have 40 points. Betis, who drew 1-1 in Malaga, have 41, the same points as Getafe.