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Barcelona loses a thriller

Madrid: Sergio Aguero’s late goal helped Atletico Madrid come from behind to beat Barcelona 4-3 and blow the Spanish title race wide open.

Barcelona, which led 2-0 and 3-2, has now failed to win in four matches and has seen its lead over Real Madrid cut from 12 points, just three weeks ago, to four.

Thierry Henry put Barcelona ahead with a fine strike from 25 yards which flew into the top corner after 18 minutes before Lionel Messi, on the half-hour mark, produced a trademark dribble before finishing in style.

Diego Forlan brought Atletico back into the match with a spectacular 30-yard drive before Aguero got the first of his brace after 56 minutes. Barcelona, which was stunned by struggling Espanyol last weekend, re-established its lead when Eidur Gudjohnsen unselfishly played in Henry for his second from close range in the 73rd minute.

But Atletico was not finished and Forlan again scored, this time from the penalty spot in the 80th minute, before Aguero struck in the 89th minute to win the match.

Valencia in trouble

Meanwhile, the pressure is growing on Valencia coach Unai Emery as his side followed its mid-week UEFA Cup elimination with a 2-1 home defeat by Valladolid.

It took just six minutes for Valladolid to go ahead with Jonathan Sesma heading home but then chances came and went for both sides before Raul Albiol scored an own goal to double the lead. Valencia did eventually manage to find the back of the net through Carlos Marchena after 73 minutes.

Mallorca continued its fight against relegation by beating Sporting Gijon to secure its third successive win with a free-kick from Juan Arango giving the visitor the win.

The results: La Liga: Racing Santander 1 (Serrano 13) drew with Osasuna 1 (Pandiani 45+1); Numancia 0 lost to Deportivo La Coruna 1 (Juan Rodriguez 75); Almeria 2 (Negredo 16, 64) bt Getafe 1 (Guerrsn 7); Sporting Gijon 0 lost to Real Mallorca 1 (Arango 49); Malaga 0 lost to Recreativo Huelva 2 (Camunas 54, Colunga 64); Atletico Madrid 4 (Forlan 32, 80-pen, Aguero 56, 89) bt Barcelona 3 (Henry 19, 73, Messi 30); Valencia 1 (Marchena 74) lost to Valladolid 2 (Sesma 6, Albiol 31-og); Real Betis 2 (Sergio Garcia 42, Oliveira 57) drew with Villarreal 2 (Cazorla 6, 36).

Serie A: Atalanta 0 lost to Chievo 2 (Langella 78, Pellissier 89-pen); Cagliari 0 drew with Torino 0; Palermo 0 lost to Catania 4 (Ledesma 14, Morimoto 37, Mascara 44, Paolucci 66); Reggina 1 (Sestu 21) drew with Fiorentina 1 (Bonazzoli 23); Sampdoria 2 (Cassano 33, Pazzini 51) bt AC Milan 1 (Pato 80); Siena 0 drew with Genoa 0; Udinese 2 (D’Agostino 75, Pasquale 90) bt Lecce 0; Inter Milan 3 (Balotelli 50, 63-pen, Crespo 79) drew with AS Roma 3 (De Rossi 23, Riise 29, Brighi 57).

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