Atletico boost Champions League ambitions

MADRID, Spain -- Atletico Madrid beat 10-man Sevilla 2-1 on Saturday to boost their hopes of taking the Spanish league's final Champions League spot.

Argentina striker Kuno Aguero swept past two defenders into the box in the 57th minute to reach Antonio Lopez's cross and score the match-winner past a beaten Andres Palop.

Three minutes later, Sevilla lost Vincenzo Maresca for headbutting Aguero.

"He killed me," Aguero told La Sexta TV. "The most important thing is that we won."

Atletico, who have 50 points, stretched their fourth-place lead over Sevilla and Espanyol to five points. Espanyol can restore the two-point gap when they play 19th-ranked Murcia. Racing Santander are next on 44.

Automatic qualification to play in the Champions League was Atletico's primary target this season and they have hovered in fourth for most of the campaign.

Sevilla are hoping to return to Europe's top-tier club competition after reaching the first knockout stage this season. A poor start has left them playing catch-up, however.

That continued from the 19th when Maxi Rodriguez beat Palop with a low shot at the near post after Aguero fanned on Simao Sabrosa's centering pass for the ball to land in the Argentina midfielder's path.

Atletico's defense stymied Sevilla strike pair Luis Fabiano and Frederic Kanoute, who had combined for 45 goals in all competitions this season.

Sevilla rallied with an equalizer in the 48th, Atletico goalkeeper Christian Abbiati diving quickly to keep Kanoute's angled shot out only for Diego Capel to push in the rebound untouched.

On Sunday, league leader Real Madrid hosts Valencia, fresh off their victory over Barcelona to advance to the Copa del Rey final, while Barcelona -- with only one point from its last three league games -- play Valladolid.

Defending champion Madrid lead the standings with 62 points. Barcelona have 55 and Villarreal 53.

Earlier, Juan Arango's long-range free kick led Mallorca past Deportivo La Coruna 1-0.

Dudu Aouate misjudged Arango's curled shot from near the right sideline in the 22nd minute, the untouched ball taking a bounce in the box before going under the Israel goalkeeper.

Deportivo finished with 10 players after Ivan "Riki" Sanchez received a second yellow card in injury time.

The Venezuela midfielder's 11th goal of the season moved Mallorca, which has dropped only one of its last 11, into 10th place with 37 points.

Deportivo, whio had only a single defeat in their previous eight games, remained in with 34 points in 14th place, two above a relegation place. E-mail to a friend