Valencia kept the pressure on leaders Real Madrid after second-half goals from Mauricio Pellegrino and leading striker Mista gave them a 2-0 win at home to basement side Murcia on Sunday.

Rafa Benitez's side looked as though they were going to be frustrated by their ultra-defensive opponents until Argentine defender Pellegrino broke the deadlock with a powerful header 17 minutes from time and Mista secured the all-important win with a late volley.

With seven matches remaining Real, who claimed a somewhat fortunate 2-1 win at Albacete on Saturday, lead the Spanish Primera Liga on 67 points, Valencia are hot on their heels on 66, while Deportivo Coruna are a distant third on 57.

Deportivo effectively waved goodbye to their title hopes after surrendering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home to Real Betis.

Barcelona, who were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Villarreal on Saturday, are fourth on 56 but have a game in hand after last week's game with Betis was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Atletico Madrid took an important step towards securing a place in next season's UEFA Cup with a 2-1 win at home to Valladolid, a victory that leaves them in fifth place three points clear of Osasuna.

Valencia, who went into the game at Mestalla on a four-match winning run, found it hard to open up a crowded Murcia defence.

In-form winger Vicente made room for himself on the left on several occasions, but a forest of Murcia defenders were always on hand to clear the danger when he neared the area.

Without playmaker Pablo Aimar, who picked up a groin injury while on international duty with Argentina in midweek, Valencia appeared to lack the ideas needed to unpick the defence.

STRONG APPEAL

The home side had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down when Mista was bowled over in the area at the end of the first half, but it was not until 28 minutes into the second half that they got the breakthrough.

With his first touch of the ball, substitute Jorge Lopez swept a corner in from the right and Pellegrino burst through the defence to score with a bullet header.

The goal immediately settled a nervy Valencia and Mista grabbed his 18th goal of the season when he volleyed in from eight metres out after Murcia failed to clear a Vicente cross.

Earlier neatly fashioned first-half strikes from forward Albert Luque and midfielder Victor had put Deportivo 2-0 up against Betis after just 17 minutes, but the visitors pulled one back when Marcos Assuncao scored with a spectacular free kick just after the half hour.

Deportivo, who appeared to have their minds on the Champions League quarter-final second leg against AC Milan, eased up after the break and paid the price when substitute Dani bundled in 19 minutes from time after another free kick.

At the other end of the table Celta Vigo, whose coach Radomir Antic quit at the start of the week saying he felt overwhelmed by the team's problems, drew 0-0 at Athletic Bilbao.

But the Galicians are still four points adrift of Real Mallorca, who sit just above the relegation zone after a 1-1 draw at home to Real Sociedad.