SPANISH LA LIGA: SERGIO AGUERO scored a late winner as Atletico Madrid twice came from behind to stun visiting Barcelona 4-3 yesterday and extend the Primera Liga leaders' miserable run of form.

Real Madrid’s 2-0 win at Espanyol on Saturday, their 10th straight victory, had upped the pressure on Barca, who have now taken only one point from their last three matches and had their advantage over the champions whittled down to four points.

Atletico started brightly but fell behind to a superb Thierry Henry goal on 19 minutes.

The ball fell kindly to the French international just outside the penalty area and he curled a superb shot over Leo Franco into the top right corner.

Lionel Messi left the Atletico defence trailing and finished clinically to double Barca’s advantage 12 minutes later before Diego Forlan lashed a shot from long range that flew over Victor Valdes into the net to pull one back.

A mistake by Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez let Aguero in to equalise early in the second half but the home side fell behind again when Eidur Gudjohnsen raced clear and squared for Henry to score his second on 72 minutes.

Forlan scored from the penalty spot with 10 minutes left after Henry fouled Florent Sinama Pongolle and Aguero burst through a Carles Puyol tackle and side-footed past Valdes for the winner on 89 minutes.

In other matches yesterday, fourth placed Villarreal drew 2-2 at Real Betis and Valencia lost 2-1 at home to Real Valladolid to drop to sixth behind Atletico on goal difference.

On Saturday, Guti and Raul scored second-half goals to secure Real Madrid’s win, while Frederic Kanoute struck twice to help third-placed Sevilla to a 2-1 comeback win at Athletic Bilbao.