Celta Vigo keep alive Champions League hopes

Celta Vigo players celebrate after scoring their second goal against Deportivo Coruna during their Spanish league football match at the Riazor Stadium in Coruna, northwestern Spain. Celta won 2-0.

Celta Vigo continued their surprising season with a 2-0 win at local Galician rivals and fellow UEFA Cup contenders Deportivo La Coruna.

A goal in each half from David Silva and Jesus Perera gave Celta three vital points to keep them in fifth place and still with a good chance of qualifying for the Champions League.

Recent seasons have been a roller-coaster for Celta fans.

Two seasons ago, the team were in the Champions League but ended the 2003-04 season relegated, before returning to the top flight at the first time of asking.

Silva put the visitors ahead from close range after 34 minutes, scrambling the ball into the net following a Nestor Canobbio corner.

Perera then completed Celta's joy with an angled left foot shot from the side of the area three minutes from the whistle.

Deportivo's misery was compounded by having their World Cup-bound Argentine defender Fabricio Coloccini sent off 10 minutes from time after receiving his second yellow card.

Real Betis were held to a 1-1 draw by fellow strugglers Athletic Bilbao, a result that does neither side any favours and leaves both of them still worryingly close to the relegation zone.

Betis winger Edu sent a crafty chip into the six yard box after 24 minutes and his Brazilian compatriot Robert was on hand to head home the opener but the Basque visitors equalised through a close range Jesus Lacruz goal after 65 minutes.

After their match at Sevilla was washed out last Sunday, runaway league leaders Barcelona have another chance to clinch their second successive Spanish championship this weekend but will need Valencia to help them.

Firstly, the Champions League finalists have to beat relegation-threatened Cadiz in front of their home fans later on Saturday but then must wait to see if Valencia drop points at home to struggling Alaves on Sunday.

If the results go their way then Sunday night could see massive celebration in the Catalan capital as Barca complete the first part of their domestic and continental double.

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard provided one early bit of good news for the club's fans when their playmaker and Spanish international Xavi Hernandez was named in the squad for the first time in five months after recovering from a knee injury.

Third-placed Real Madrid travel to Osasuna, who are one place and one point below them, on Sunday.

"It will be a disaster to lose to Osasuna, but they showed their qualities when they are playing in front of their home fans by beating Barcelona (last month)," said Real coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro.

Real will be without the suspended Zinedine Zidane, who announced on Wednesday he will retire after the World Cup, and the three-time World Player of the Year is likely to be replaced by Pablo Garcia.

At the foot of the table, Malaga will be relegated after seven seasons in the Spanish first division if they fail to beat Racing Santander at home on Sunday and Real Mallorca get a point at Atletico Madrid later in the day.