Deportivo make most of Real's slip at Recreativo to take command in title race

Deportivo La Coruna knocked Real Madrid off the top of the Spanish league on Saturday after they claimed a 2-0 win over Malaga, while the former leaders were held to a goalless draw at lowly Recreativo Huelva.

Deportivo's 40-year-old defender Donato, the oldest player in the league, scored the opener with a glancing header in the 13th minute off Victor's corner. The midfielder Lionel Scaloni confirmed victory when he added Deportivo's second on a counter-attack in injury time.

With the injured Ronaldo, Raul, Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane remaining in Madrid, Real lacked fluency against relegation-threatened Recreativo, and it was the home side who came closest to breaking the deadlock, Raul Molina shooting wide after just 25 seconds and then coming close to touching in Emilio Viqueira's free-kick five minutes later.

Real then had a brief spell in control and the striker Fernando Morientes threatened from the edge of the area. The Real striker Tote then had a goal-bound shot blocked by the defender Mariano Pernia on 15 minutes and Morientes skied over soon after, but Huelva fought back and almost snatched the lead just before half-time. Molina raced on to a long pass with just Iker Casillas to beat, but the Real goalkeeper blocked the shot with his feet.

Alaves claimed their first win in 11 outings, edging Atletico Madrid 1-0 away thanks to a breakaway goal from the substitute Adrian Ilie 10 minutes into the second-half, while Osasuna drew 0-0 at Espanyol.

The defeat for Atletico, whose coach Luis Aragones has announced he will quit at the end of the season, effectively ended their hopes of a gaining a place in Europe.