Deportivo and Mallorca make the Champions League

Simon Baskett

Deportivo Coruna lost their 16-month unbeaten home record after they slumped to a 2-1 defeat against relegation-threatened Valladolid in the Spanish first division on Sunday.

But despite their defeat, Deportivo are now assured of a place in next season's Champions League after Valencia were held to a 1-1 draw at struggling Racing Santander and Barcelona lost 1-0 at home to Real Oviedo.

With Real Madrid wrapping up their 28th title in some style as they hit five past UEFA Cup finalists Alaves on Saturday, attention was really focused on the battle for the Champions League places and the struggle to avoid relegation.

Depor will be joined by the in-form Real Mallorca who secured their place the competition with a classy 4-0 win over Rayo Vallecano.

But the remaining place still has to be fought out between Valencia and Barcelona. The Catalan giants face the unwelcome prospect of missing out on Europe's elite football competition if Valencia win just one of their remaining two matches.

The results mean that Deportivo stay second nine points behind champions Real and two ahead of Real Mallorca. Valencia follow a further two points behind on 63 points, four clear of Barcelona.

Valladolid went two goals up against Deportivo after 64 minutes following well-taken goals from Ivan Kaviedes and Fernando Sales.

And although Roy Makaay pulled one back for Depor on 76 minutes Valladolid held on to take their first away win of the season and give themselves every hope of avoiding the drop.

Valencia still looked to be suffering from the after effects of their morale-sapping defeat in the final of the Champions League as they snatched a 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened Racing Santander in the Spanish first division on Sunday.

Burly Argentine striker Javier Mazzoni looked to have secured a vital victory for Racing, but a 90th-minute strike from skipper Gaizka Mendieta gave Valencia a vital point in their bid to make next season's Champions League competition.

After the disappointment of their penalty shoot-out defeat at the hands of recently crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, Valencia were clearly finding it difficult to refocus their attention on the league.

Hector Cuper's side took some time to warm to the task as it took them 18 minutes before they managed to put together their first real attack. Young midfielder Vicente volleyed just wide after John Carew clipped in a cross from the by-line.

Six minutes later Gaizka Mendieta hit the bar, but Racing gave as good as they got and Javier Mazzoni forced a fine save from Santiago Canizares as he snapped up a loose ball in the Valencia area.

It was Racing who began the second half in more determined fashion and just four minutes after the break Mazzoni put them ahead.

The powerful Argentine forward outjumped Jocelyn Angloma and headed home a fine cross spun in from the right by Swedish defender Olof Mellberg.

The Cantabrians surged forward in search of a second and Claudio Arzeno should have extended their lead six minutes later when he rose unmarked at the far post only to head wide.

But Mendieta spoiled the party at the Sardinero stadium when he picked up a John Carew header, checked past keeper Javier Ceballos and smashed home in the last minute.

With fellow relegation strugglers Numancia gaining a vital 2-1 win at home to Espanyol and Osasuna losing 2-0 at Villarreal there is nothing to separate the bottom three clubs, who are all on 36 points.

But there is now a four-point gap to the next three clubs -- Oviedo, Real Sociedad and Rayo Vallecano -- who are all tied on 40 points.