Champions League hopefuls Mallorca held by Malaga

Milan: Real Mallorca squandered a chance to cement their hold on Spain`s fourth Champions League qualification berth when they had to come from a goal down to rescue a point in a 1-1 draw at home to 10-man Malaga.

Mallorca midfielder Gonzalo Castro had his 45th-minute penalty saved after Malaga defender Milan Stepanov was dismissed for a handball on the line before Victor Obinna fired the La Liga strugglers in front four minutes from time. Striker Aritz Aduriz nodded home in added time to leave Mallorca in fourth on 56 points with four matches remaining and Malaga in 17th, two points above the relegation places.Fifth-placed Sevilla, who have 54 points, can climb above the Balearic Islanders with a win at Getafe later on Sunday. Villarreal have 52 in sixth after their 2-1 comeback win at Racing Santander and Athletic Bilbao, who play at 13th-placed Osasuna on Monday, are seventh on 49, two ahead of Getafe. In other matches on Sunday, Espanyol moved closer to safety with a 1-0 success at Almeria and 18th-placed Real Valladolid kept alive their hopes of avoiding the drop by winning 2-0 at Sporting Gijon.The top three all won on Saturday, leaders Barcelona beating basement side Xerez 3-1 at the Nou Camp, Kaka netting a late winner for second-placed Real Madrid in a 2-1 win at Real Zaragoza and Valencia downing Deportivo Coruna 1-0 at home thanks to David Villa`s first-half penalty. Bureau Report