Atletico secures valuable points

Atletico Madrid has moved a step closer to claiming a place in next season's Champions League after beating Espanyol in the Primera Liga.

Goals from the ever-reliable strike duo Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan sealed the points for Javier Aguirre's side and consolidated fourth place with two rounds of games remaining.

But Atletico did not have things all its own way in the opening minutes against a spirited Espanyol side.

The Catalans had not won in seven matches, but started brightly and were almost gifted a golden opportunity after five minutes when goalkeeper Leo Franco nearly fumbled the ball on the edge of the area with Espanyol's Luis Garcia waiting to pounce.

A minute later, Aguero brilliantly went past David Garcia and clipped the ball over Inaki Lafuente, but Marc Torrejon got back to clear the Argentinian's goalbound effort.

Lafuente then pushed Aguero's header over the bar after 25 minutes as Atletico began to find rhythm.

And from the resulting corner, the former Independiente striker hacked in a rebound after Torrejon had failed to clear.

Atletico doubled the lead just four minutes later.

Lafuente spilled Antonio Lopez's innocuous cross at the feet of Forlan and the Uruguay striker gratefully slotted a low shot past the Basque keeper.

Luis Garcia should have made it three but shot straight at Lafuente and then hit the rebound over the bar.

Atletico continued to dominate in the second half and Forlan could have made it three when he charged into the Espanyol area but slid a low shot just the wrong side of the post.

At the other end, Espanyol's Garcia struck a free-kick against the post but Atletico held on comfortably to move to within three points of third-placed Barcelona.

Primera League

Espanyol 0
Atletico Madrid 2
(Aguero 27, Forlan 30)