MADRID – Real Madrid’s title hopes were left hanging by a thread after Jose Mourinho’s side suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Osasuna on Sunday to fall seven points behind leaders Barcelona.
It was Mourinho’s second league defeat in charge as Madrid-born striker Javier Camunas scored the decisive goal on 62 minutes to seal an historic win for Osasuna and deal Real’s title aspirations a hammer blow. In other matches, third-placed Villarreal closed to within six points of Real with a 1-0 win at Espanyol.
It was only Espanyol’s second league defeat at their Cornella-El Prat stadium and the Barcelona-based club stay three points behind fourth-placed Valencia, who have a game in hand against Racing Santander on Monday. Under-fire Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores felt the pressure intensify as his side lost 2-0 at home to Athletic Bilbao.
Gaizka Toquero scored in each half, on 45 and 64 minutes, to down 10-man Atletico, who had Colombian defender Luis Perea sent off on 38 minutes for conceding a penalty, and sixth-placed Bilbao move five points clear of Atletico in the table.
