By DPA
Madrid : Fallen Spanish giants Deportivo Coruna took another big step towards safety in the Primera Liga, winning 1-0 over fellow strugglers Betis.
Deportivo – Liga champions in 2000 – won in Seville thanks to a 34th minute goal from defender Pablo Amo, who turned in a clever centre from Fabricio Coloccini Saturday.
Deportivo should have sealed their win towards the end with a second goal, but were foiled by Betis’ Portuguese keeper Ricardo. In the 77th minute Ricardo kept Betis in the game by saving a penalty from Juan Rodriguez, given for a foul on Alberto Lopo.
Ricardo’s team-mates, however, failed to take advantage of this reprieve, and never looked capable of forcing a draw.
Their second successive win takes Deportivo up to third from bottom, with 23 points – the same number as Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao – from 22 games. Below them are Murcia and Recreativo Huelva on 22. Levante are rock bottom with just 12 points.
Betis are now seventh from bottom, with 25 points, and back in trouble.
Earlier Saturday, leaders Real Madrid suffered their third league defeat, 2-0 away to surprise package Almeria.
The shock defeat means that second-placed Barcelona will reduce Real’s lead to six points on Sunday if they win away to lowly Osasuna.
Real now have 53 points from 22 games.
The memorable win – which will be celebrated all night in the small southern port – takes Almeria up to seventh, their highest ever placing in La Liga.
The main man for Almeria was young forward Alvaro Negredo, who left Real in summer after being given few chances.
In the 15th minute Negredo got above Fabio Cannavaro to head a free-kick across the Real area, and defender Juanito Gutierrez turned the ball past Iker Casillas for the opening goal.
From then on Almeria were content to soak up the pressure and play on the break, a tactic often used by Real themselves this season.
Just one minute into the second half the hosts were given a penalty for a clumsy Cannavaro tackle from behind on the lively Negredo.
Negredo calmly put away the spot kick and Real were in massive trouble, especially as Ruud Van Nistelrooy had just limped off injured.
Almeria keeper Diego Alves pulled off spectacular saves from Raul Gonzalo Higuain, who had come on for Van Nistelrooy. But Almeria also had good chances on the break to make it 3-0.