Real are crushed at home by Mallorca

REAL MADRID’S preparations for their midweek Champions League semi-final clash against Juventus, as well as their assault on a 29th Spanish league crown, suffered an embarrassing setback on Saturday when they crashed to a 5-1 home defeat to Mallorca.

It was the European champions' first defeat at their Santiago Bernebau stadium since November 2000 and, to add insult to injury, it was Mallorca who inflicted that loss 49 matches ago. Later, Real Sociedad cut Madrid's lead at the top to just one point when midfielder Xabi Alonso scored in the 31st minute in their 1-0 win over Sevilla. "It is really sad to have lost like this," said Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos who scored an own-goal in the game at the Bernebau.

"But now it's important that we don't let this affect us for Tuesday's match against Juventus because it is the Champions League and we must give it everything we have."

The Real Madrid players were booed off by their fans after the defeat, the club's heaviest since a 5-1 loss to Real Zaragosa in 1999 which led then to the dismissal of former coach John Toshack. Real dominated large parts of the first half and even opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldo netted his 300th career goal and 17th in the league this season.

But Mallorca, still chasing a UEFA Cup place next season, launched an incredible fightback after the interval, inspired by former Madrid player Samuel Eto'o.

The Cameroon international first set up the equaliser for Walter Pandiani in the 47th minute before they took the lead five minutes later with Eto'o again involved.

It was 3-1 after 63 minutes with the Cameroon ace getting on the scoresheet with a shot from the right before Roberto Carlos put through his own net in the 73rd minute. Dominguez Carlos added the fifth against a dispirited Madrid in the final minute.

Meanwhile, Celta Vigo fought out an entertaining 0-0 draw at relegation-threatened Alaves and moved into fourth place and a Champions League slot as a result. Celta leap-froged Valencia after the reigning champions went down 2-1 at Racing Santander. Racing eased their own relegation fears thanks to two first-half goals from Rodolfo Bodipo, who was returning from suspension after head butting an opponent.

Atletico Madrid's misery continued as they collapsed 3-1 at Valladolid.

After a brief early flourish, Atletico seemed to run out of ideas after Fernando Sales had put Valladolid ahead after 29 minutes. David Arganzo made the most of an Emerson error and put Valladolid further ahead after 50 minutes, and although Jose Mari Romero reduced the deficit with a header on the hour, Arganzo put the game beyond the visitors' reach with his second goal 15 minutes from time.

Deportivo La Coruna hammered Recreativo Huelva 4-0.

Juventus will have to wait another week to wrap up the Italian title after they were held to a goalless draw at Lazio on Saturday.

Inter failed to reduce Juventus' advantage by drawing 1-1 in Bergamo.

After the hosts had spurned two excellent chances in the opening stages, Inter broke swiftly to take the lead in the 13th minute.

Domenico Morfeo played a short pass through the middle for Obafemi Martins to run onto, and the Nigerian youngster sped clear of the home defence before steering the ball wide of Alex Calderoni for his first Serie A goal. But Atalanta, struggling to stay in the top flight, fought back and deservedly drew level 19 minutes from time. Tira Vugrinec's weak right-foot shot was spilled by Francesco Toldo, allowing Carmine Gautieri an easy tap-in at the far post.

Third-placed AC Milan moved four points clear of Lazio after beating Como 2-0 at the San Siro, a defeat that sent the visitors back down to Serie B. Filippo Inzaghi's first-half penalty, his 16th league goal of the season, gave Milan the lead, before Alessandro Nesta converted Rivaldo's corner to condemn Como to their 16th defeat of a torrid campaign. Torino were also relegated after losing 1-0 to Udinese. Meanwhile, 10-man Feyenoord won 2-1 at Utrecht yesterday to keep up the chase in the Dutch first division.

Leaders PSV have 77 points with four matches remaining after they were held 2-2 by AZ Alkmaar on Saturday. Ajax Amsterdam are on 71 after a 6-1 drubbing of RKC Waalwijk and Feyenoord have moved to 70.

UEFA Cup finalists Porto won their 19th Portuguese league title and sealed their berth in the Champions League by crushing lowly Santa Clara 5-0 at home. With four games left in the championship, Porto have 79 points and an unassailable 14-point lead over second-placed Benfica, whose faint title hopes vanished as they went down 2-1 at home to local rivals Sporting.