European Football: Deportivo fall back

BARCELONA and Real Madrid each had a man sent off but won away from home yesterday to stay locked together at the top of the Spanish league. Barcelona, the defending champions, coasted past Albacete 2-0 despite the loss of Juan Goicoechea, with both goals coming early from Aitor Beguiristain. But Real needed a last-minute goal from the Chilean Ivan Zamorano to beat fourth- placed Valencia 2-1.

Deportivo La Coruna, who led the table for 10 weeks, seem to have run out of luck. They also had a player dismissed, Antonio Doncel, and conceded two goals in the last two minutes in drawing 2-2 at home to Tenerife. They trail the leading pair by one point.

Feyenoord drew level with PSV Eindhoven, who beat Maastricht 2-1 on Saturday, at the top of the Dutch league by winning 2-0 at Rotterdam neighbours Sparta with a goal each from Arnold Scholten and Rob Witschge. PSV, who have a game in hand and the better goal difference, visit Feyenoord next Sunday.