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February 6, 2012

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Barca sees off Sociedad to keep pace on Madrid

BARCELONA stayed hard on the heels of La Liga leader Real Madrid when Lionel Messi's brilliance lifted a side containing several youngsters to a 2-1 win to Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Real had earlier deployed close to its strongest team in a 1-0 victory at city rival Getafe, defender Sergio Ramos nodding in the only goal on a bitterly cold and blustery night at the Coliseum stadium that lifted it to 55 points from 21 matches.

In the equally chilly Nou Camp, more than 50,000 fans turned out to witness Barca's 10th victory in 11 home league games this season that kept it within seven points of its archrival. With Wednesday's Copa del Rey semifinal second leg against Valencia looming, coach Pep Guardiola had opted to start with regulars Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique on the bench.

Pacy 20-year-old Cristian Tello opened the scoring in the ninth minute when he dashed in from the left wing on to a Messi through ball and finished clinically past goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, his debut goal for the first team.

Messi, who had earlier been denied by excellent saves from the Sociedad keeper, made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute when he hooked in a Daniel Alves cross before Carlos Vela pulled one back for the visitors.



 

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