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Barcelona rallies to draw at Valencia, Milan held
Source: Agencies |
September 23, 2011, Friday
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CESC Fabregas scored for the fourth straight game to salvage a 2-2 draw for Barcelona at Valencia as the defending champion avoided defeat on a night when top rival Real Madrid was held 0-0 at Racing Santander.
Lionel Messi continued his prolific partnership with the former Arsenal player by setting him up for the 77th-minute equalizer as the Catalans twice rallied from deficits.
While Barcelona salvaged a point, Madrid staggered to a lackluster result on the Cantabrian coast, marking the first time the Spanish powerhouse has played consecutive league games without a win since the arrival of coach Jose Mourinho.
Madrid showed little improvement from its 0-1 loss to Levante on Sunday despite a revamped lineup, and failed to create a single clear scoring chance before halftime.
"At the end, the points are all that matters and we have let five points slip away from home. It is worrying, yes," Mourinho said. "In the first half we didn't play much. In the second half we did reach the opponents' territory, but we didn't have many chances to score."
It was Barcelona's third 2-2 draw in the last two weeks, but this time it came away with relief rather than disappointment at having a lead slip away. "They had a great first part, we were better in the second, but we just lacked scoring that third goal," Fabregas said. "I just want to help the team, that is the important thing. The truth is that right now we are not interested in Madrid."
Valencia remained the leader with 10 points, one better than Real Betis and Malaga, which beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 thanks to Santi Cazorla's exquisite second-half freekick. Bilbao has now lost three straight under new coach Marcelo Bielsa.
Lionel Messi continued his prolific partnership with the former Arsenal player by setting him up for the 77th-minute equalizer as the Catalans twice rallied from deficits.
While Barcelona salvaged a point, Madrid staggered to a lackluster result on the Cantabrian coast, marking the first time the Spanish powerhouse has played consecutive league games without a win since the arrival of coach Jose Mourinho.
Madrid showed little improvement from its 0-1 loss to Levante on Sunday despite a revamped lineup, and failed to create a single clear scoring chance before halftime.
"At the end, the points are all that matters and we have let five points slip away from home. It is worrying, yes," Mourinho said. "In the first half we didn't play much. In the second half we did reach the opponents' territory, but we didn't have many chances to score."
It was Barcelona's third 2-2 draw in the last two weeks, but this time it came away with relief rather than disappointment at having a lead slip away. "They had a great first part, we were better in the second, but we just lacked scoring that third goal," Fabregas said. "I just want to help the team, that is the important thing. The truth is that right now we are not interested in Madrid."
Valencia remained the leader with 10 points, one better than Real Betis and Malaga, which beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 thanks to Santi Cazorla's exquisite second-half freekick. Bilbao has now lost three straight under new coach Marcelo Bielsa.
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