By DPA
Madrid : Valencia’s 0-3 defeat at home to Athletic Bilbao in Sunday’s late Spanish Primera Liga match is good news for leaders Real Madrid.
The defeat leaves Valencia in sixth place and in a massive crisis – and also leaves Real with, in effect, one title challenger less to worry about.
Bilbao rounded off a horrible week for Valencia, which saw them eliminated from the Champions League on Wednesday.
Fran Yeste put Bilbao ahead in the 33rd minute with a classy left-foot free-kick which left veteran Valencia keeper Santiago Canizares helpless.
In the 61st minute youngster Fernando Llorente added to Valencia’s woes by making it 2-0 with a powerful header.
In injury time Llorente took advantage of more nervous Valencia defending to make it 3-0, clinching Bilbao’s first win in Mestalla for 20 years.
The final whistle produced a massive white-handkerchief protest by the crowd against Valencia president Juan Soler, who had to leave Mestalla with police protection.
Ronald Koeman’s troubled team have 24 points from 14 games. Two points and one place above them are Espanyol, who forced a 1-1 draw against neighbours Barcelona Saturday.
In fourth place now, on 27 points, are Atletico Madrid, who won 2-0 away to lowly Betis with goals from Diego Forlan and Raul Garcia.
In joint second place, on 28, are Villarreal and Barcelona.
Three Liga coaches could face the sack this week after Sunday’s matches.
Betis coach Hector Cuper is skating on thin ice after the defeat at home to Atletico. His team are second from bottom with just 11 points.
Zaragoza boss Victor Fernandez is also under massive pressure after a 2-1 defeat away to Recreativo Huelva, a defeat which leaves Zaragoza in ninth place.
Another man staring down the barrel of a gun is Deportivo Coruna coach Miguel Angel Lotina, after Sunday’s 1-2 defeat at home to fellow strugglers Osasuna.
Fallen giants Depor are now third from bottom, with only Betis and Levante – who lost 2-1 away to Getafe – below them.