Barca falls in derby as Real hits Betis for 6

Source: Agencies | February 23, 2009, Monday |

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BOTTOM club Espanyol stunned leader Barcelona with a 2-1 victory at the Nou Camp while chasing Real Madrid ran riot with a 6-1 home win over Real Betis in the Primera Liga on Saturday.

Ten-man Barcelona slipped to only its second defeat of the season and saw its lead, which stood at 12 points just over a week ago, cut to seven.

Espanyol's Ivan de la Pena, who once played for Barcelona, made the most of Seydou Keita's first-half dismissal, scoring twice after the break in the Catalan derby.

Yaya Toure pulled one back just past the hour but it was not enough to prevent champion Real edging even closer with its ninth successive victory, heading into Wednesday's Champions League match against Liverpool.

The nine straight wins ties Real's third best streak in history although the team will be without strike Klaas Jan Huntelaar against Liverpool because the club chose midfielder Lassana Diarra after only one of the January arrivals was eligible.

Huntelaar and Raul helped themselves to two goals each while Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Ramos weighed in with one apiece as Real went in 6-1 up against Betis at halftime at the Bernabeu.

"No one said this would be easy," Barca coach Pep Guardiola said. "But we are still in a good position and tomorrow we will pick ourselves up."

Barca is on 60 points and Real has 53 while third-placed Sevilla climbed on to 44 after Jesus Navas grabbed a late goal for a 1-0 win at home to Atletico Madrid.

Villarreal is up to fourth with 41 points after a 2-1 home win over Sporting Gijon.

Soccer

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Barca falls in derby as Real hits Betis for 6

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