La Liga:Two-time reigning champions Real Madrid relinquished their La Liga crown to arch rivals Barcelona after slumping to a 3-2 defeat at Villarreal last night.

Lying eight points behind pacesetters Barca with three games remaining, Madrid needed to win at El Madrigal to keep the title race alive - at least until Pep Guardiola's men met Real Mallorca on Sunday.

But goals from Robert Pires, Ruben Cani and Joan Capdevila cancelled out efforts from Madrid duo Rafael Van der Vaart and Gonzalo Higuain to give Villarreal a much-needed boost in their hunt for a Champions League spot and hand Barca their 19th Spanish title.

Elsewhere, Riki's late strike denied Getafe an important win at in-form Deportivo La Coruna with a 1-1 drawing leave the Madrid-based side sweating over survival with two rounds remaining.

Roberto Soldado's goal just after half-time looked to have given Getafe a second straight league win, and that would have seen Michel's side reach the 40-point mark ahead of key games against Numancia and Racing Santander.

But former Getafe striker Riki struck five minutes from time to frustrate his old team-mates and keep Deportivo's hopes of a place in European competition next season alive.

Osasuna edged a point closer to survival following a hard-fought goalless draw at home to Sevilla.

The home side dominated much of the first half, but were unable to find a way through against a below-par Sevilla outfit.

But chances were few and far between in a tense second period and both sides looked happy to settle for a point as the match wore on.

Sevilla were reduced to 10 men eight minutes from time when Ndri Romaric was sent off, but Osasuna were unable to capitalise and finished the match with a man less themselves after Sergio Fernandez saw red in added time