Atletico Madrid’s Simao Sabrosa (2nd right)
celebrates after scoring against FC Barcelona
during their Spanish League match in Madrid.

Madrid — World champions Barcelona crashed to their first defeat in the Spanish Liga 2-1 on Sunday at spirited Atletico Madrid and are now just two points ahead of Real Madrid. Diego Forlan and Simao scored the early goals that put Barca on the slide, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic pulled a goal back for the champions, who failed to create clear chances to equalise. "We really deserved this win," said Atletico's teenaged keeper David de Gea, who enjoyed a surprisingly relaxed night.

Barca went to Madrid without several key players due to injuries and suspensions. And after just two minutes midfielder Seydou Keita limped off with a torn left hamstring. Barca have won just one in their last six visits to the Estadio Calderon. They went behind after nine minutes, when Forlan took a pass from Jose Antonio Reyes and scored with a powerful long dive. In the 23rd minute, Simao made it 2-0 with one of his trademark free-kick goals, surprising Barca keeper Victor Valdes, who expected a near-post instead of a far-post shot.

Just four minutes later, Ibrahimovic reduced the arrears with a close-range volley, after Carles Puyol had headed on a Xavi corner. But Barca never found their rhythm and lacked the clarity to produce clear goal chances. The second half was a scrappy, disjointed affair, with Atletico content to sit back and soak up the pressure. Barca have 55 points from 22 games, while Real have 53 points after beating bottom Xerez 3-0 on Saturday.

In third place on 43 are Valencia, who could manage only a 1-1 draw on Saturday in Gijon. Sevilla reclaimed fourth place on Sunday with a 1-0 home win over Osasuna. The only goal in Seville was headed in by Brazil striker Luis Fabiano, on a centre from Diego Capel in the 35th minute. Spirited Osasuna came close to equalising at the end, but the Sevilla defence managed to hold firm. — DPA