Atletico Madrid close to Champions League after beating Espanyol

Javier Aguirre's team remain fourth in La Liga with 61 points from 36 games.

 They are now just three points behind crisis club Barcelona, who announced earlier Thursday that coach Frank Rijkaard was to be replaced in June by Josep Guardiola.

 Atletico are three points ahead of fifth-place Sevilla and need three points from their last two games to clinch fourth place.

 "Tonight's was a really important win," said Atletico's teenage idol Sergio Aguero, who scored the first goal. "Now we have to finish the job off in our last two matches."

   Aguero, 19, put Atletico ahead in the 27th minute by turning in the loose ball after the flat Espanyol defence had failed to clear a corner.

 Just three minute later, edgy Espanyol failed to clear a free-kick - and Diego Forlan made it 2-0 with a handsome shot on the turn.

 Espanyol - who have not won in seven games - never looked capable of turning the game around.

 Even so, Spain striker Luis Garcia hit the Atletico crossbar with a swerving free-kick 10 minutes from time.

 Ernesto Valverde's team were jeered off by the thin crowd. The latest defeat leaves them in 11th place with their high hopes of the autumn now in tatters.