MADRID, April 3 — Real Madrid's bid to end Barcelona's two-year reign as Spanish champions suffered a huge setback when their injury-hit side slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Sporting Gijon in La Liga yesterday.

The loss at a stunned Bernabeu, three days before Real host Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League, spoiled the club's perfect home record of 14 wins this season and ended coach Jose Mourinho's own nine-year unbeaten run in home league games.

It also handed Barca a chance to stretch their advantage at the top to eight points with eight games left if they can win at Villarreal in the late kickoff (2000 GMT).

"Mathematics say the league is not lost but objectively speaking if the gap goes from five to eight points we can say that it's almost impossible," Mourinho told a news conference.

"Luck is part of football and our opponent (Gijon) had it all and we had none."

Barca have 78 points from 29 games, with Real on 73 from 30. Valencia climbed above Villarreal into third spot at least for a few hours after Roberto Soldado struck four times against his former club Getafe in a 4-2 success.

Manu Del Moral put Madrid-based Getafe ahead in the 13th minute before Soldado, who joined Valencia at the end of last season as a replacement for the Barca-bound David Villa, scored four fine goals after halftime.

Adrian Sardinero netted a consolation in the 88th.

Trio missing

Real's joint La Liga top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, in-form striker Karim Benzema and fullback Marcelo all missed the game against Gijon through injury and Mourinho's side initially struggled to create chances against their obstinate visitors.

Forward Gonzalo Higuain, making his first appearance in four months after back surgery, squandered a fine opportunity on the hour when he blasted straight at goalkeeper Juan Pablo shortly after coming on as a substitute.

Gijon grabbed a surprise lead 19 minutes later when Miguel Angel de las Cuevas burst into the area from the left wing and struck a precise shot that beat goalkeeper Iker Casillas to his right and went in off the post.

In a frenetic final few minutes, Real were denied an equaliser by some desperate defending and Sami Khedira had an effort cleared off the line by a Gijon outfield player in the fourth minute of added time.

"A big part of the league has slipped away from us," Real's Spain defender Sergio Ramos said in a television interview.

Asked whether the defeat meant the end of their hopes of catching Barca, he added: "Being realistic, yes more or less. There are very few points left available.

"You cannot blame the team in any way as the ball just unfortunately wouldn't go in today. It's very sad to lose when you have so many chances."

Gijon's win was a personal triumph for their charismatic coach Manuel Preciado, who rowed with Mourinho when the teams met in November.

Preciado was incensed after the Portuguese suggested Gijon had not given their all against Barca and the pair were reprimanded by a government commission that seeks to combat racism and intolerance in sport.

"Mou(rinho) congratulated each of my players in the dressing room," Preciado said at a news conference. "Now we have to build on all this work in the eight remaining games."

Gijon are 11th on 35 points, six above the relegation zone. — Reuters

WELLINGTON, April 3 — New Zealand's Auckland City boosted their hopes of qualifying for the Fifa Club World Cup by beating Vanuatu's Amicale 2-1 in the first leg of the Oceania region's club final.

Auckland thanked a lucky deflection for the decisive 82nd minute goal in Port Vila yesterday, a clearing kick rebounding off Luis Corrales across the goal line after the grounded Costa Rican striker had slid in to meet a cross.

"The win has come via a little bit of luck in the end and I think we would definitely have settled for a draw," said Auckland coach Aaron McFarland. "Considering they played very well and dominated possession, we're very happy with 2-1."

Spanish striker Manuel Exposito slotted a spot kick after being brought down by the keeper to put Auckland 1-0 up in the 22nd minute, before Amicale captain Fenedy Masauvakalo fired in a 67th minute equaliser.

The second leg for a place at the Club World Cup, and a guaranteed US$500,000 (RM1.510 million) payday, will take place in Auckland on April 17. — Reuters