Juan Rodriguez and Pablo Amo scored second-half goals Saturday to give Deportivo La Coruna a 2-0 win over a depleted FC Barcelona, increasing Real Madrid's chance of clinching the Spanish league championship this weekend. Madrid will retain its title on Sunday if it beats Athletic Bilbao at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and second-place Villarreal fails to win at Real Betis. Barcelona needed a win to maintain a glimmer of hope in the title race, but gave a lackluster display and extended its winless streak to five games – its worst since the 2002-03 season. The Catalan team's loss was also a blow to its hopes of finishing runner-up, which would provide it with a direct berth into the group stage of next season's Champions League. It was Deportivo's fifth straight win, a run which has lifted the team from the lower half of the standings into seventh place with 49 points. Also Saturday, Sevilla suffered a blow to its hopes of a Champions League place next season with a 0-0 draw at relegation-threatened Murcia. Madrid has 72 points, 10 more than Villarreal and 11 more than Barcelona with four rounds remaining after Sunday. Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard omitted forwards Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o, midfielders Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, defender Gabriel Milito and goalkeeper Victor Valdes with a view to Tuesday's Champions League semifinal return leg at Manchester United. The teams drew the first leg 0-0 on Wednesday. The visitors also lacked the injured Ronaldinho, who is sidelined for the rest of the season. The Brazil playmaker may have played his last game for Barcelona, as he appears to be eyeing a move to another club. Sevilla stayed sixth with 52 points. Murcia, whose hopes of remaining in the top flight are dwindling, remained 19th with 30 points, seven points from safety. Motherwell remains third In Glasgow, Motherwell drew 2-2 with visiting Dundee United on Saturday to keep third place in the Scottish Premier League. With leader Celtic set to host second-place Rangers on Sunday, the meeting at Fir Park was the biggest of the day. Hibernian is also in contention for next season's UEFA Cup, but lost 2-1 at Aberdeen. Motherwell has 53 points, just one more than Dundee United and two more than Hibs, but has played two games fewer than its rivals for a UEFA Cup spot. Celtic leads by two points from Rangers with 77 but has played three games more than its city rival.
