Deportivo ends Barcelona's title hopes

Deportivo continued its surge up the standings by winning for the 10th time in 14 games and all but ended Barcelona's title hopes.

Deportivo climbed within three points of sixth-place Sevilla, which tied Real Murcia 0-0 on Saturday, for a European berth.

Rodriguez scored in the 54th and Amo doubled the lead in the 76th. Deportivo needs to catch Sevilla to finish in the top six, which would qualify the team for the UEFA Cup.

Barca rested Samuel Eto`o, Lio Messi and Xavi, and Andres Iniesta and Gabriel Milito were suspended. The club also had Deco, Victor Valdes and Eric Abidal on the bench to start the match.

Despite being out of the title chase in Spain, Barcelona plays the second leg of its Champions League semifinal against Manchester United on Tuesday. Barca and United tied 0-0 in the first leg.

Sevilla picked up one point to secure its hold on sixth but is still two back of Atletico Madrid for a spot in the Champions League.

Real Murcia is seven points deep in the relegation zone with just four games remaining.

Also Sunday, Atletico Madrid visits Getafe trying to hold onto fourth and the final Champions League berth, Almeria visits Real Valladolid, fifth-place Racing hopes to secure a European berth when it visits Mallorca, Valencia hosts Osasuna in a battle to avoid relegation, Recreativo hosts last-place Levante hoping to climb out of the drop zone and Real Zaragoza visits Espanyol trying to stay out of the bottom three.