Fallen giants Villarreal and Atletico Madrid in big trouble

MADRID - Villarreal and Atletico Madrid are in big trouble after losing their away games in the Spanish football league.

Villarreal are placed at the bottom after losing 2-1 against newcomers Xerez Sunday, Atletico are sixth from bottom after crashing 3-0 away to Osasuna.

Needless to say, coaches Ernesto Valverde and Abel Resino are both in jeopardy.

Villarreal, who reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season, took an early lead in Xerez through French veteran Robert Pires.

But Mario Bermejo headed in an equalizer for Xerez just before half-time and the “Yellow Submarine” was shipping water yet again.

Ten minutes from the end Antonito made it 2-1 from just outside the penalty area, despite a suspicion of handball. Villarreal defender Gonzalo Rodriguez was then sent off for fighting.

It was Xerez’ first ever top flight win and takes them off the bottom. They are now third from bottom with five points, one point above Malaga, who lost 2-1 at home to Almeria, and two above Villarreal.

Villarreal coach Valverde said, “We coaches are constantly in danger…Now we are bottom, it has to be admitted, but now we have to climb up again.”

Level with Xerez on five points are Valladolid, who lost 4-2 against Real Madrid on Saturday, and Tenerife, who went down 2-1 against Espanyol on two goals from Ivan Alonso.

Then come hapless Atletico, with just six points from five games.

They were 3-0 down in Pamplona after just 30 minutes, and were lucky not to concede more goals in the second half.

Uruguayan veteran Walter Pandiani took advantage of some pathetic defending to score Osasuna’s first two goals, both with his head, Carlos Aranda made it 3-0 on the half hour.

Atletico coach Abel Resino said that he was “not very worried” about his job, but looked depressed and demoralized.

In sharp contrast, Mallorca moved up to fifth with a 3-1 home win over Getafe.

Julio Alvarez gave the islanders the lead, Aritz Aduriz then took centre stage with two goals. Juan Albin pulled a late goal back for Getafe but it was too little too late to save the visitors.

“We are really enjoying ourselves this season,” said Alvarez, “without thinking too much about where we are in the table.”

Mallorca have 13 points from seven games, two fewer than Deportivo Coruna and Sevilla, who share third place. Real Madrid are second on 18, Barcelona top on 19.

Mallorca are one point above sixth-placed Valencia, who held Barca to a 0-0 draw on Saturday.

Racing Santander, meanwhile, were battling out a 2-2 draw in Zaragoza with impressive late goals from Mohammed Tchite and Oscar Serrano.

In Sunday’s other game, Sporting Gijon moved up to seventh by winning 2-1 away to Athletic Bilbao, thanks to two late goals from Miguel de la Cuevas.