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Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is standing by his decision to drop keeper Iker Casillas from the starting line-up despite their 3-2 defeat to Malaga.
Mourinho is now coming under renewed pressure as the defeat left the champions 16 points behind leaders Barcelona.
It was the first time in 10 years that Spanish World Cup-winner Casillas had been axed, with Antonio Adan, 25, called up to take the place of the benched veteran.
Isco and Roque Santa Cruz, with a double, grabbed the goals for Malaga.
Madrid did level at 1-1 with an own goal by Samuel Sanchez and then Karim Benzema made it 3-2 eight minutes from time, but the home side clung on to celebrate their first win over Real in 29 years.
Malaga's win left the Costa del Sol club in fourth place, two points behind Madrid on 31 points, while Atletico Madrid, who beat Celta Vigo 1-0 on Friday, are second, nine points behind Barcelona.
Barca had earlier won 3-1 at Valladolid, a timely boost for cancer-stricken coach Tito Vilanova, who left hospital on Saturday 48 hours after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour in his saliva gland.
Mourinho was adamant that he would not quit as Real coach.
"I'm not worried about my job at all and I'm not going to resign," said the Portuguese, who justified his decision to axe Casillas.
"At the moment, for me and my coaching staff, Adan is better than Iker. We have been struggling in a number of areas, one of those has been defence. The coach analyses who is in the best situation to play and chooses his team."
Barcelona's victory came courtesy of goals from
Xavi Hernandez, Lionel Messi and Cristian Tello.
Jordi Roura took charge of Barca in the absence of Vilanova, who will be out of the game for months to undergo radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
The win allowed Barcelona to finish the year with 16 wins in 17 games this season, the 2-2 home draw with Real Madrid being the only match in which the leaders have dropped points.
"The result could not be more satisfying. We have ended the year very well in a sporting sense and if we add to this the good news about Tito, we can be very happy", said Roura. "The only way we had to help him was winning the game and, once again, the team's attitude has been remarkable."
Alexis Sanchez should have opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute, but after running on to a Dani Alves pass, he shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
Valladolid goalkeeper Dani Hernandez was called into action on 11 minutes to stop a shot from Messi and Xavi went close with a curling free kick after 26 minutes.
Messi hit a free kick against the post on 35 minutes after centre-half Henrique Sereno had blocked Thiago Alcantara on the edge of the area.
Barca took the lead with three minutes of the half remaining when a quick attack saw Messi find full-back Jordi Alba in an advanced position on the left and his cross left Xavi with the easiest of finishes.
Messi doubled the lead with a stunning goal almost exactly on the hour mark.
The Argentine put the ball through a defender's legs during a driving run before hitting a crisp left-footed shot into the corner to finish the calendar year on a staggering 91 goals.
The capacity 26,500 crowd sportingly applauded Andres Iniesta on to the pitch as a late substitute before Javi Guerra gave the home side a late consolation from close range.
But substitute Tello made it three for Barca with what was his only touch of the game in injury time.


Jose Mourinho benches Real Madrid goalkeeper Casillas

Real Madrid's embattled coach Jose Mourinho appears to be blocking out the mocking of the fans as his side, without the dumped Iker Casillas, go down to Malaga. Photo: AFP

Lionel Messi

Sport

Football

Spain's World Cup-winning goalkeeper is relegated to sidelines for the first time in 10 years as the reigning champions lose to Malaga


Jose Mourinho benches Real Madrid goalkeeper Casillas

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Spain's World Cup-winning goalkeeper is relegated to sidelines for the first time in 10 years as the reigning champions lose to Malaga

Spain's World Cup-winning goalkeeper is relegated to sidelines for the first time in 10 years as the reigning champions lose to Malaga