Barca labors to top
Source: Agencies |
March 26, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
BARCELONA survived without Lionel Messi with late goals by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Bojan Krkic to grab a labored 2-0 win over Osasuna and go top of La Liga on Wednesday.
The champions moved on to 71 points from 28 games, three clear of title rivals Real Madrid.
Argentina forward Messi has stolen the limelight at Barca in recent games, scoring 11 in the last five matches, but had a relatively quiet match at the Nou Camp.
The visitors comfortably held an out-of-sorts Barca at bay until the 72nd minute when Maxwell crossed low for Swedish striker Ibrahimovic to break the stalemate with his second goal in as many games.
Substitute Krkic struck near the end after a trademark passing move from the hosts as Osasuna's defense finally succumbed to the relentless pressure.
"We didn't play our best game today but we got the three points and that's all that counts," Ibrahimovic said.
Barcelona barely had a sight of goal early on against a well-organized Osasuna and again missed the link up play of injured midfield organiser Xavi, who was watching from the stands.
Osasuna's Krisztian Vadocz forced a brilliant reaction save from Victor Valdes in the clearest chance of the first half and Pep Guardiola brought on Pedro for Thierry Henry at the break.
Pedro, pushing for a place in Spain's World Cup squad, had a hand in the build-up to both Barca's goals.
Valencia strengthened its hold on the last automatic Champions League qualification berth, moving six points clear of fourth-placed Real Mallorca on to 53 points.
Mallorca drew 0-0 at Racing Santander and is two ahead of Sevilla, which was held 1-1 at home by basement side Xerez on Tuesday.
In other games, Almeria continued its steady climb up the standings with a 1-0 win over Real Zaragoza that moved it up to 10th; Villarreal was held 2-2 in Tenerife and 10-man Real Valladolid drew 0-0 at home to Espanyol.
The champions moved on to 71 points from 28 games, three clear of title rivals Real Madrid.
Argentina forward Messi has stolen the limelight at Barca in recent games, scoring 11 in the last five matches, but had a relatively quiet match at the Nou Camp.
The visitors comfortably held an out-of-sorts Barca at bay until the 72nd minute when Maxwell crossed low for Swedish striker Ibrahimovic to break the stalemate with his second goal in as many games.
Substitute Krkic struck near the end after a trademark passing move from the hosts as Osasuna's defense finally succumbed to the relentless pressure.
"We didn't play our best game today but we got the three points and that's all that counts," Ibrahimovic said.
Barcelona barely had a sight of goal early on against a well-organized Osasuna and again missed the link up play of injured midfield organiser Xavi, who was watching from the stands.
Osasuna's Krisztian Vadocz forced a brilliant reaction save from Victor Valdes in the clearest chance of the first half and Pep Guardiola brought on Pedro for Thierry Henry at the break.
Pedro, pushing for a place in Spain's World Cup squad, had a hand in the build-up to both Barca's goals.
Valencia strengthened its hold on the last automatic Champions League qualification berth, moving six points clear of fourth-placed Real Mallorca on to 53 points.
Mallorca drew 0-0 at Racing Santander and is two ahead of Sevilla, which was held 1-1 at home by basement side Xerez on Tuesday.
In other games, Almeria continued its steady climb up the standings with a 1-0 win over Real Zaragoza that moved it up to 10th; Villarreal was held 2-2 in Tenerife and 10-man Real Valladolid drew 0-0 at home to Espanyol.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
