10-man Real edges closer to Barca
Source: Agencies |
February 15, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
REAL Madrid recovered from the second-minute dismissal of goalkeeper Iker Casillas to secure a battling 1-0 win at Espanyol on Sunday and cut Barcelona's lead at the top of La Liga to five points.
Barcelona's record 16-match winning run ended on Saturday when it had to fight back from a goal down to rescue a 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijon and Real took full advantage with a gritty display at a raucous Cornella-El Prat Stadium.
Casillas, Spain's World Cup-winning captain, was shown a straight red after bringing down Jose Callejon just outside the area and Real coach Jose Mourinho immediately brought on reserve keeper Antonio Adan to replace Argentina winger Angel Di Maria.
The dismissal lifted the home fans but they were silenced on 24 minutes when Real defender Marcelo cut in from the left wing and squeezed a shot past Carlos Kameni from a tight angle.
January loan signing Emmanuel Adebayor almost snatched a second in the 40th minute but the Togo international's scooped shot bounced on top of the crossbar.
Adebayor had chances to make the game safe late in the second half but Kameni pulled off two superb saves, while at the other end Joan Verdu nearly surprised Adan with a chip.
Mourinho said Real had done well to beat such strong opponents with a man fewer.
"I am not going to change my tune just because we are two points closer," the Portuguese told a news conference.
"I would like to have a five-point lead over the team in second place."
In the earlier kickoff, Villarreal surrendered its grip on third place when it lost 0-1 at Deportivo Coruna.
Defender Alberto Lopo grabbed the only goal in the 60th at the Riazor when he popped up unmarked to steer home an Antonio Tomas free kick.
Villarreal's second defeat in a row following last weekend's 0-1 reverse at home to Levante left it in fourth, two points behind Valencia which won 2-1 at Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Barcelona has 62 points from 23 matches, with Real on 57. Valencia is 10 points adrift on 47 and Villarreal has 45.
Fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao, which was at Real Mallorca yesterday, is seven points behind Villarrreal, while Espanyol is sixth, a point behind the Basque club.
In the English Premier League, on-loan Bolton Wanderers striker Daniel Sturridge scored his third goal in three games to wrap up a 2-0 victory over Everton on Sunday.
The pacy target man, signed from Chelsea last month, latched on to a knockdown from Lee Chung-yong to volley powerfully home midway through the second half and maintain his impressive start with his new team.
Defender Gary Cahill opened the scoring early in the match when he found space in the area to head a Stuart Holden free kick into the back of the net with the help of a deflection off Johnny Heitinga.
Bolton remained in eighth place on 36 points while Everton is struggling in 13th on 30, just three points clear of the relegation zone.
Barcelona's record 16-match winning run ended on Saturday when it had to fight back from a goal down to rescue a 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijon and Real took full advantage with a gritty display at a raucous Cornella-El Prat Stadium.
Casillas, Spain's World Cup-winning captain, was shown a straight red after bringing down Jose Callejon just outside the area and Real coach Jose Mourinho immediately brought on reserve keeper Antonio Adan to replace Argentina winger Angel Di Maria.
The dismissal lifted the home fans but they were silenced on 24 minutes when Real defender Marcelo cut in from the left wing and squeezed a shot past Carlos Kameni from a tight angle.
January loan signing Emmanuel Adebayor almost snatched a second in the 40th minute but the Togo international's scooped shot bounced on top of the crossbar.
Adebayor had chances to make the game safe late in the second half but Kameni pulled off two superb saves, while at the other end Joan Verdu nearly surprised Adan with a chip.
Mourinho said Real had done well to beat such strong opponents with a man fewer.
"I am not going to change my tune just because we are two points closer," the Portuguese told a news conference.
"I would like to have a five-point lead over the team in second place."
In the earlier kickoff, Villarreal surrendered its grip on third place when it lost 0-1 at Deportivo Coruna.
Defender Alberto Lopo grabbed the only goal in the 60th at the Riazor when he popped up unmarked to steer home an Antonio Tomas free kick.
Villarreal's second defeat in a row following last weekend's 0-1 reverse at home to Levante left it in fourth, two points behind Valencia which won 2-1 at Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Barcelona has 62 points from 23 matches, with Real on 57. Valencia is 10 points adrift on 47 and Villarreal has 45.
Fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao, which was at Real Mallorca yesterday, is seven points behind Villarrreal, while Espanyol is sixth, a point behind the Basque club.
In the English Premier League, on-loan Bolton Wanderers striker Daniel Sturridge scored his third goal in three games to wrap up a 2-0 victory over Everton on Sunday.
The pacy target man, signed from Chelsea last month, latched on to a knockdown from Lee Chung-yong to volley powerfully home midway through the second half and maintain his impressive start with his new team.
Defender Gary Cahill opened the scoring early in the match when he found space in the area to head a Stuart Holden free kick into the back of the net with the help of a deflection off Johnny Heitinga.
Bolton remained in eighth place on 36 points while Everton is struggling in 13th on 30, just three points clear of the relegation zone.
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