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Barcelona, Real remain on course
Source: Agencies |
December 14, 2009, Monday
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ZLATAN Ibrahimovic smashed in a penalty to give La Liga leader Barcelona a 1-0 home win over Espanyol on Saturday while Real Madrid kept pace at the top when Gonzalo Higuain struck twice in a 3-2 win at Valencia.
Champion Barcelona and second-placed Real were missing key players, with Lionel Messi out of the Catalan derby due to an ankle sprain and the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo and injured Kaka absent for the Valencia clash.
After a tight first half at the Mestalla, Real's Argentina striker Higuain broke the deadlock in the 54th minute with a header from Karim Benzema's cross before league top-scorer David Villa equalized with his 12th of the season on the hour.
Marcelo set Higuain up to drive home his second five minutes later, Valencia substitute Joaquin made it 2-2 after 80 minutes and Real defender Ezequiel Garay, who replaced the injured Pepe just before the break, headed the winner three minutes later.
"It was a very important victory against one of our direct rivals," Higuain said.
Barcelona tops the standings on 39 points from 15 matches, five ahead of Real which has a game in hand. Valencia is third with 28 and Sevilla, which was at Sporting Gijon, is a further point back in fourth.
Higuain's Argentina teammate Messi was injured in last Wednesday's Champions League victory at Dynamo Kiev, but was in the Nou Camp earlier to show fans the Ballon d'Or award he won this month.
His replacement, Pedro, fluffed a chance to put the hosts ahead in the 14th when he robbed Francisco Chica but skewed his shot wide with Carlos Kameni's goal at his mercy.
Victor Valdes had to be alert to keep out Joan Verdu's dipping strike seconds later before Kameni acrobatically palmed away Thierry Henry's low effort.
Sweden striker Ibrahimovic converted a penalty in the 39th, after Baena impeded Xavi, giving Kameni no chance with a drive high into the net for his 11th goal of the season.
"We knew it was going to be tough," coach Pep Guardiola told a news conference. "We played a very good first half but the reward was scant."
Barca now travels to Abu Dhabi to take part in the World Club Cup where it will face CONCACAF champion Atlante in the semifinals on Wednesday.
It is bidding for a sixth trophy to go with its Spanish and European Champions League titles, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish and European Super Cups.
Earlier, striker Iker Muniain came off the bench to inspire Athletic Bilbao to a 2-1 win at promoted Real Zaragoza which prompted the sacking of home coach Marcelino.
Supporters at the Romareda had earlier unfurled a banner saying, "These fans don't deserve such humiliation," and the defeat left Zaragoza just above the relegation zone in 17th place with just three wins from its 14 games.
Champion Barcelona and second-placed Real were missing key players, with Lionel Messi out of the Catalan derby due to an ankle sprain and the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo and injured Kaka absent for the Valencia clash.
After a tight first half at the Mestalla, Real's Argentina striker Higuain broke the deadlock in the 54th minute with a header from Karim Benzema's cross before league top-scorer David Villa equalized with his 12th of the season on the hour.
Marcelo set Higuain up to drive home his second five minutes later, Valencia substitute Joaquin made it 2-2 after 80 minutes and Real defender Ezequiel Garay, who replaced the injured Pepe just before the break, headed the winner three minutes later.
"It was a very important victory against one of our direct rivals," Higuain said.
Barcelona tops the standings on 39 points from 15 matches, five ahead of Real which has a game in hand. Valencia is third with 28 and Sevilla, which was at Sporting Gijon, is a further point back in fourth.
Higuain's Argentina teammate Messi was injured in last Wednesday's Champions League victory at Dynamo Kiev, but was in the Nou Camp earlier to show fans the Ballon d'Or award he won this month.
His replacement, Pedro, fluffed a chance to put the hosts ahead in the 14th when he robbed Francisco Chica but skewed his shot wide with Carlos Kameni's goal at his mercy.
Victor Valdes had to be alert to keep out Joan Verdu's dipping strike seconds later before Kameni acrobatically palmed away Thierry Henry's low effort.
Sweden striker Ibrahimovic converted a penalty in the 39th, after Baena impeded Xavi, giving Kameni no chance with a drive high into the net for his 11th goal of the season.
"We knew it was going to be tough," coach Pep Guardiola told a news conference. "We played a very good first half but the reward was scant."
Barca now travels to Abu Dhabi to take part in the World Club Cup where it will face CONCACAF champion Atlante in the semifinals on Wednesday.
It is bidding for a sixth trophy to go with its Spanish and European Champions League titles, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish and European Super Cups.
Earlier, striker Iker Muniain came off the bench to inspire Athletic Bilbao to a 2-1 win at promoted Real Zaragoza which prompted the sacking of home coach Marcelino.
Supporters at the Romareda had earlier unfurled a banner saying, "These fans don't deserve such humiliation," and the defeat left Zaragoza just above the relegation zone in 17th place with just three wins from its 14 games.
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