MADRID — Atletico Madrid's La Liga title challenge took a nosedive when it slumped to a shock 3-0 defeat at Osasuna Sunday, leaving Real Madrid three points clear at the top. Champion Barcelona and Real were held to draws at Osasuna's El Sadar Stadium earlier in the season and Atletico fell behind in the sixth minute when Alvaro Cejudo arrived unmarked at the back post to volley a corner into the net. An error by fullback Juanfran allowed Emiliano Armenteros space to score with a long-range drive in the 21st minute and Roberto Torres nodded a third goal three minutes before the break. It was the first time Atletico conceded three goals in the first half since Argentine coach Diego Simeone took over at the end of 2011. Simeone left several regulars out of his starting lineup before bringing on playmakers Koke and Arda Turan and attacking midfielder Raul Garcia in the second half. Atletico forward Diego Costa, who has 21 goals in La Liga this season, toiled up front but a typically gritty defensive performance from Osasuna kept him at bay as they climbed to 12th on 29 points. “When your opponent is superior all you can do is congratulate them and Osasuna played very well today,” Simeone told a news conference. Atletico's defeat in Pamplona came after Barcelona lost 3-1 at fifth-placed Real Sociedad Saturday as coach Gerardo Martino's decision to rest key players backfired. Real Madrid had earlier cruised to a 3-0 win at home to promoted Elche. It has the outright lead for the first time since the end of the 2011-12 season, on 63 points with 13 matches left. Barca, chasing a fifth title in six years, and Atletico have 60 points with the Catalan giant ahead on goal difference. Atletico and Barca won impressively away from home in midweek Champions League action. The latter beat Manchester City 2-0 and the former overcame AC Milan 1-0 but both teams were unable to carry their form into the weekend. Real, which plays its Champions League last-16 first leg at Schalke 04 Wednesday, is unbeaten in 26 matches in all competitions and visits Atletico next Sunday when it will be seeking to avenge a 1-0 defeat at home to its city rival in September. Fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao remained on course for a berth in Champions League qualifying when it won 2-0 at bottom club Real Betis which had a player sent off in each half. Sevilla and Valencia stayed in the hunt for European places when they won 1-0 at struggling Rayo Vallecano and 2-1 at home to mid-table Granada, respectively. Seventh-placed Sevilla and Valencia, in eighth, have 35 points, five behind Villarreal in sixth who visit Espanyol Monday. Sociedad is on 43 points in fifth, four adrift of Basque rivals Bilbao. Juventus beats Torino Carloz Tevez struck again to help Juventus beat Torino 1-0 in the Turin derby Sunday as Antonio Conte's side maintained its charge to a third straight Serie A title. Tevez scored on the half hour mark, although Torino will feel aggrieved not to have been awarded a late penalty when Omar El Kaddouri appeared to be tripped by Andrea Pirlo. It was Tevez's 13th goal of the season and sees him move level with Giuseppe Rossi at the top of the goalscoring table. The Fiorentina striker was injured at the beginning of January and is out for the rest of the season. Juventus moved nine points ahead of second-placed Roma, which has a game in hand. In the race for the final Europa League spot, Torino slipped four points below fifth-placed Inter Milan which could only draw 1-1 at home to relegation-threatened Cagliari. Hellas Verona almost squandered a three-goal lead but held on to win 3-2 at struggling Livorno and moved a point behind Inter. Luca Toni scored his 12th of the season for Verona. — Agencies
