New Delhi: Atletico de Madrid left Real Betis with four weeks in which to save themselves from the drop after they secured a win that moves los Colchoneros to within a point of fourth.
Diego Forlan ensured that Atletico Madrid kept their Champions League hopes for next term alive with a brace against a hapless Real Betis side that remain deep in trouble near the bottom three.
The Uruguayan striker netted early in the game to put the visitors in the Ruiz de Lopera ahead before he added a second shortly before the end to complete a good night for him.
Betis huffed and puffed, but the faces of their fans said it all as they were left wondering where the inspiration and desire, let alone the ability, to pull their team out of the mire will come from.
Atletico have been hit and miss in recent weeks, but they were able to keep their hosts out and create chances that could have made the winning margin even greater than it turned out to be.
With Valencia losing to Espanyol, it was paramount that los Colchoneros won to move to within a point of los Che while Betis are now three points from the relegation zone.
While Betis may have started well enough, they were behind after just 12 minutes when a flowing move from Atleti saw them open up the home team's defence with a sublime finish to break the deadlock.
Raul Garcia found Maxi down the left of the area and as Forlan took a step back to create space for himself, he was picked out with a low cross which he hit first time to beat Ricardo.
The game was being played at a hectic pace and Mariano Pernia thumped a shot just over shortly before Ricardo Oliveira's header was off target soon after.
Mark Gonzalez had Betis' best chance of the first half when he was put through on goal and as Leo Franco came out to reduce the angle, he scooped the ball over the bar.
An attacking substitution after the break saw Atletico commit to winning the game as Florent Sinama-Pongolle replaced Ever Banega, but it was los Verdiblancos that were looking for the next goal soon after.
Gonzalez went down in the area and he appealed for a penalty in the belief that he had been pulled back by Luis Perea, but the referee was not impressed and waved away his protests.
Betis may have lacked some finesse and have run short of ideas in and around their opponents area, but they did show signs that they could forge an equaliser.
Juanito and Edu both looked to test Leo Franco before Raul Garcia and Forlan ensured that their hosts had to stay alert at the other end.
With five minutes remaining Ricardo Oliveira could have made himself a hero when he met Gonzalez's cross with his head, but Los Colchoneros' keeper showed good reactions to keep his side in front as he palmed the ball away.
That save proved to be even more valuable moments later when Luis Garcia sought to impress after coming on as a substitute and did just that as he back-heeled the ball into Forlan's path and the striker took a touch and steered the ball inside the near post.
In the closing moments Forlan could have had his hat-trick when he flashed a shot wide of the far post, but that would have been harsh on Betis and their suffering supporters who were streaming out of the stadium by then.
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