Barca held as Real stretches lead
Source: Agencies |
January 30, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
REAL Madrid moved seven points clear at the top of La Liga with a comfortable 3-1 win over bottom side Real Zaragoza as Barcelona could only draw 0-0 at lowly Villarreal on Saturday.
The league leader recovered quickly from its midweek Copa del Rey quarterfinal exit to archrival Barca and it was Pep Guardiola's victors who seemed to suffer a hangover.
Barca's pursuit of a fourth consecutive league title is now an even tougher task as it seeks to catch Jose Mourinho's men after yet another poor showing on the road where five draws and one defeat has taken it's toll. Real's 17th win from 20 league games left it top on 52 points, with Barca second on 45. Valencia, in third with 35, visits Racing Santander later yesterday.
The European and Spanish champion was down to the bare bones at the Madrigal with Pedro a late addition to its growing injury list that includes striker David Villa and midfielder Andres Iniesta.
Lionel Messi lobbed just wide during a stale first half as Barca lacked its usual zip against a side which started the day in 17th place having won its first game in 11 attempts last weekend.
Barca threw men forward near the end, fielding Alexis Sanchez as a substitute despite him playing with a shoulder injury, but they could not beat home keeper Diego Lopez.
The Spanish international denied Messi in a one-on-one in the closing minutes and with the goal gaping, Fabregas booted the rebound high over the bar to complete a bad night for the visitors.
"The league isn't over yet, there is still a long way to go," World Player-of-the-Year Messi told reporters. "We just lacked a bit of luck tonight. We didn't play as well as we can do, but we created chances and all we lacked was a goal."
Angel Lafita gave Zaragoza a surprise early lead at the Bernabeu after a quickly taken freekick in the 11th minute but thoughts of a first win since mid-October quickly disappeared.
Brazilian Kaka squeezed a low shot under Roberto to level in the 32nd minute and Cristiano Ronaldo tapped in his 24th league goal of the campaign at the start of the second half.
The lively Mesut Ozil netted with a fierce drive after a slick passing move in the 56th and the whistles from home fans against Mourinho from last weekend, appeared long forgotten.
The league leader recovered quickly from its midweek Copa del Rey quarterfinal exit to archrival Barca and it was Pep Guardiola's victors who seemed to suffer a hangover.
Barca's pursuit of a fourth consecutive league title is now an even tougher task as it seeks to catch Jose Mourinho's men after yet another poor showing on the road where five draws and one defeat has taken it's toll. Real's 17th win from 20 league games left it top on 52 points, with Barca second on 45. Valencia, in third with 35, visits Racing Santander later yesterday.
The European and Spanish champion was down to the bare bones at the Madrigal with Pedro a late addition to its growing injury list that includes striker David Villa and midfielder Andres Iniesta.
Lionel Messi lobbed just wide during a stale first half as Barca lacked its usual zip against a side which started the day in 17th place having won its first game in 11 attempts last weekend.
Barca threw men forward near the end, fielding Alexis Sanchez as a substitute despite him playing with a shoulder injury, but they could not beat home keeper Diego Lopez.
The Spanish international denied Messi in a one-on-one in the closing minutes and with the goal gaping, Fabregas booted the rebound high over the bar to complete a bad night for the visitors.
"The league isn't over yet, there is still a long way to go," World Player-of-the-Year Messi told reporters. "We just lacked a bit of luck tonight. We didn't play as well as we can do, but we created chances and all we lacked was a goal."
Angel Lafita gave Zaragoza a surprise early lead at the Bernabeu after a quickly taken freekick in the 11th minute but thoughts of a first win since mid-October quickly disappeared.
Brazilian Kaka squeezed a low shot under Roberto to level in the 32nd minute and Cristiano Ronaldo tapped in his 24th league goal of the campaign at the start of the second half.
The lively Mesut Ozil netted with a fierce drive after a slick passing move in the 56th and the whistles from home fans against Mourinho from last weekend, appeared long forgotten.
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