Barca secures win with big comeback
Source: Agencies |
October 1, 2012, Monday
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DAVID Villa scored in injury time after Cesc Fabregas netted a brace to give Barcelona a dramatic 3-2 comeback win against 10-man Sevilla on Saturday, equaling the Spanish pacesetter's best league start ever with six straight wins.
For 89 minutes, Sevilla looked set to repeat its feat from two weeks ago when it edged out Madrid with a similar defensive effort and counterattacking style.
Piotr Trochowski opened for Sevilla in the 26th minute, and Alvaro Negredo doubled the host's advantage three minutes after halftime after a miscue by Barcelona's defense.
Five minutes later Fabregas scored from long range to start Barcelona's rebound, but Sevilla held firm until midfielder Gary Medel was shown a direct red card for head-butting Fabregas in the 72nd.
Barcelona pressed its advantage and Fabregas took Lionel Messi's pass inside the area and toed his shot by goalkeeper Andres Palop before the defense had time to close, leveling the score one minute from time.
Messi, frustrated early on in his attempts to score, then teed up Villa's winner three minutes into added time. The late substitute took Messi's pass, used one touch to open space and fired home to claim the win.
"We were never comfortable during the game, but when things got complicated we demonstrated our character," Fabregas said.
Barcelona's victory gave it an 11-point lead over Madrid, which was to host Deportivo La Coruna late yesterday. The two powerhouses are set to meet on Sunday at Camp Nou.
Also on Saturday, Malaga moved into second place after its 4-0 rout of 10-man Real Betis. Valencia beat Zaragoza 2-0 for a much-needed second win, and Real Sociedad downed 10-man Athletic Bilbao 2-0.
Barcelona's perfect start comes in coach Tito Vilanova's first season after taking over from Pep Guardiola.
After three of its four previous six-for-six starts - the last of which came under Guardiola in 2009 - Barcelona finished the season by winning the league title.
Barcelona's initial push included hints of what was due to come with Messi and Fabregas providing constant threats up front. But Sevilla manager Michel Gonzalez's team soaked up the pressure and went ahead through Trochowski.
The Poland midfielder collected Medel's rebound off Javier Mascherano's foot and drove a hard strike under Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes.
"My players played a great game in front of a great rival," said Gonzalez, who was sent off late for protesting. "My team knew how to take the game to our rivals and lasted almost half an hour a man down."
Villa has scored three goals in six appearances since returning from a broken leg that sidelined him for the second half of last season.
"It is very good for Villa to score. It had been a long time since he had played as our striker," said Vilanova. "A few months ago it would have been unthinkable that he would be this well by now."
For 89 minutes, Sevilla looked set to repeat its feat from two weeks ago when it edged out Madrid with a similar defensive effort and counterattacking style.
Piotr Trochowski opened for Sevilla in the 26th minute, and Alvaro Negredo doubled the host's advantage three minutes after halftime after a miscue by Barcelona's defense.
Five minutes later Fabregas scored from long range to start Barcelona's rebound, but Sevilla held firm until midfielder Gary Medel was shown a direct red card for head-butting Fabregas in the 72nd.
Barcelona pressed its advantage and Fabregas took Lionel Messi's pass inside the area and toed his shot by goalkeeper Andres Palop before the defense had time to close, leveling the score one minute from time.
Messi, frustrated early on in his attempts to score, then teed up Villa's winner three minutes into added time. The late substitute took Messi's pass, used one touch to open space and fired home to claim the win.
"We were never comfortable during the game, but when things got complicated we demonstrated our character," Fabregas said.
Barcelona's victory gave it an 11-point lead over Madrid, which was to host Deportivo La Coruna late yesterday. The two powerhouses are set to meet on Sunday at Camp Nou.
Also on Saturday, Malaga moved into second place after its 4-0 rout of 10-man Real Betis. Valencia beat Zaragoza 2-0 for a much-needed second win, and Real Sociedad downed 10-man Athletic Bilbao 2-0.
Barcelona's perfect start comes in coach Tito Vilanova's first season after taking over from Pep Guardiola.
After three of its four previous six-for-six starts - the last of which came under Guardiola in 2009 - Barcelona finished the season by winning the league title.
Barcelona's initial push included hints of what was due to come with Messi and Fabregas providing constant threats up front. But Sevilla manager Michel Gonzalez's team soaked up the pressure and went ahead through Trochowski.
The Poland midfielder collected Medel's rebound off Javier Mascherano's foot and drove a hard strike under Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes.
"My players played a great game in front of a great rival," said Gonzalez, who was sent off late for protesting. "My team knew how to take the game to our rivals and lasted almost half an hour a man down."
Villa has scored three goals in six appearances since returning from a broken leg that sidelined him for the second half of last season.
"It is very good for Villa to score. It had been a long time since he had played as our striker," said Vilanova. "A few months ago it would have been unthinkable that he would be this well by now."
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