Barca blanks Espanyol to close in on Spanish crown
Source: Agencies |
May 10, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
BARCELONA outclassed city rival Espanyol 2-0 on Sunday to move to the brink of a third consecutive Spanish La Liga title.
A mazy run and shot from Andres Iniesta in the 29th minute and a Gerard Pique header soon after the re-start were just rewards for another controlled and patient display from Pep Guardiola's side.
One of the biggest cheers of the day for home fans was for Eric Abidal when the French fullback came on for the last 20 minutes at the Nou Camp as he continued his recovery from surgery on a liver tumor.
Second-placed Real Madrid's 6-2 thrashing of Sevilla on Saturday had denied Barcelona the chance to win the championship in front of its own fans, but it showed few signs of nerves, calmly dispatching its neighbor.
The Champions League finalist climbed to 91 points and restored its eight-point lead with three games left, only needing a draw at Levante tomorrow to wrap up the title unless Real slips up at home to Getafe today.
"For the first time the league is very close, it's in our own hands and we need to achieve it against Levante," Guardiola said.
"Madrid will win (today). I want to win the title as soon as possible. I'm not going to rest anyone because we haven't won anything yet. The only team to have won something is Real Madrid (the Copa del Rey)."
At the foot of the standings, Osasuna came from behind to beat Real Zaragoza 3-1 and drag itself out of the bottom three and up to 14th on 41 points, two ahead of its host.
Angel Lafita capitalized on an error to give Zaragoza the lead in the first half but the visitors battled back after the break with goals from Javier Camunas, Sergio Fernandez and Kike Sola.
Zaragoza is out of the relegation places thanks to its superior head-to-head record with 18th-placed Deportivo Coruna.
A mazy run and shot from Andres Iniesta in the 29th minute and a Gerard Pique header soon after the re-start were just rewards for another controlled and patient display from Pep Guardiola's side.
One of the biggest cheers of the day for home fans was for Eric Abidal when the French fullback came on for the last 20 minutes at the Nou Camp as he continued his recovery from surgery on a liver tumor.
Second-placed Real Madrid's 6-2 thrashing of Sevilla on Saturday had denied Barcelona the chance to win the championship in front of its own fans, but it showed few signs of nerves, calmly dispatching its neighbor.
The Champions League finalist climbed to 91 points and restored its eight-point lead with three games left, only needing a draw at Levante tomorrow to wrap up the title unless Real slips up at home to Getafe today.
"For the first time the league is very close, it's in our own hands and we need to achieve it against Levante," Guardiola said.
"Madrid will win (today). I want to win the title as soon as possible. I'm not going to rest anyone because we haven't won anything yet. The only team to have won something is Real Madrid (the Copa del Rey)."
At the foot of the standings, Osasuna came from behind to beat Real Zaragoza 3-1 and drag itself out of the bottom three and up to 14th on 41 points, two ahead of its host.
Angel Lafita capitalized on an error to give Zaragoza the lead in the first half but the visitors battled back after the break with goals from Javier Camunas, Sergio Fernandez and Kike Sola.
Zaragoza is out of the relegation places thanks to its superior head-to-head record with 18th-placed Deportivo Coruna.
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