Goals from the ever-reliable strike duo Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan sealed the points for Javier Aguirre's side and consolidated fourth place with two rounds of games remaining.

Atletico went into the game level on points with fifth-placed Sevilla and Aguirre said a win against Espanyol was "fundamental" for his side to fulfil their Champions League aspirations.

But they did not have things all their own way in the opening minutes against a spirited Espanyol side.

The Catalans had not won in seven matches, but started brightly and were almost gifted a golden opportunity after five minutes when Atletico goalkeeper Leo Franco nearly fumbled the ball on the edge of the area with Luis Garcia waiting to pounce.

A minute later, Aguero brilliantly went past David Garcia and clipped the ball over Inaki Lafuente, but Marc Torrejon got back to clear the Argentinian's goalbound effort.

Albert Riera then headed Pablo Zabaleta's cross well wide as the home side sought to break the deadlock.

But Atletico were looking the more dangerous and the visitors wasted a great opening after 15 minutes when Atletico's Luis Garcia failed to pick out Maxi Rodriguez in space after being released by Forlan on the right.

Lafuente then pushed Aguero's header over the bar after 25 minutes as Atletico began to find rhythm.

And from the resulting corner, the former Independiente striker hacked in a rebound after Torrejon had failed to clear.

Atletico doubled their lead just four minutes later.

Lafuente spilled Antonio Lopez's innocuous cross at the feet of Forlan and the Uruguay striker gratefully slotted a low shot past the Basque keeper.

Luis Garcia should have made it three but shot straight at Lafuente and then hit the rebound over the bar.

Aguero and Forlan then combined to set up Maxi, but the Argentina midfielder lost control of the ball at a crucial time and Espanyol survived.

It was hard to see how the home side could find a way back into the game.

Atletico continued to dominate in the second half and Forlan could have made it three when he charged into the Espanyol area but slid a low shot just the wrong side of the post.

Maxi almost scored a stunning goal when he met Luis Garcia's free-kick sweetly on the volley from outside the box but his effort crashed back off the bar.

At the other end, Espanyol's Luis Garcia struck a free-kick against the post but Atletico held on comfortably to move to within three points of third-placed Barcelona.

Espanyol, meanwhile, drop into the bottom half for the first time this season and their hopes of a place in the Intertoto Cup are all but extinguished as they now sit four points behind Deportivo La Coruna with two games left.