Malaga's late strike denies Real
Source: Agencies |
March 20, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
REAL Madrid was held to a 1-1 draw by Malaga after conceding a stoppage-time equalizer from Santi Cazorla's spectacular freekick on Sunday, cutting its lead in the Spanish league to eight points over Barcelona.
Karim Benzema marked his first start back from injury with a 35th-minute headed goal at the far post from Cristiano Ronaldo's perfect cross.
Malaga withstood the host's numerous second-half chances before Cazorla curled the ball over the defensive wall and into the far corner beyond goalkeeper Iker Casillas in the second minute of added time.
Real has won 18 of 21 games in all competitions at the Bernabeu this season, with two losses to three-time defending champion Barcelona the only blemish until Sunday. Barcelona put pressure on Real's chase for a first league title in four years with a 2-0 win at Sevilla on Saturday.
"We didn't expect this result but that's part of football," said Ronaldo, who along with his teammates donned shirts in support of Barcelona defender Eric Abidal, who is set for a liver transplant. "There's no need to sound the alarm with an eight-point advantage. We're in good shape."
Earlier, Athletic Bilbao followed up another emphatic victory over Manchester United with defeat, the Basque team losing 0-3 to Valencia thanks to a hat-trick from Roberto Soldado.
Levante is six points behind city rival Valencia following a dramatic 1-0 victory over Villarreal.
Karim Benzema marked his first start back from injury with a 35th-minute headed goal at the far post from Cristiano Ronaldo's perfect cross.
Malaga withstood the host's numerous second-half chances before Cazorla curled the ball over the defensive wall and into the far corner beyond goalkeeper Iker Casillas in the second minute of added time.
Real has won 18 of 21 games in all competitions at the Bernabeu this season, with two losses to three-time defending champion Barcelona the only blemish until Sunday. Barcelona put pressure on Real's chase for a first league title in four years with a 2-0 win at Sevilla on Saturday.
"We didn't expect this result but that's part of football," said Ronaldo, who along with his teammates donned shirts in support of Barcelona defender Eric Abidal, who is set for a liver transplant. "There's no need to sound the alarm with an eight-point advantage. We're in good shape."
Earlier, Athletic Bilbao followed up another emphatic victory over Manchester United with defeat, the Basque team losing 0-3 to Valencia thanks to a hat-trick from Roberto Soldado.
Levante is six points behind city rival Valencia following a dramatic 1-0 victory over Villarreal.
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