Higuain, Ronaldo keep Real in hunt
Source: Agencies |
April 20, 2010, Tuesday
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REAL Madrid made the most of Barcelona's slip-up to close to within one point of the La Liga leader on Sunday with a 2-0 win over third-placed Valencia at the Bernabeu.
Real's title challenge appeared to be disappearing when it lost 0-2 to Barcelona last weekend but the champion's 0-0 draw at Espanyol on Saturday left the door ajar and Real grabbed the opportunity.
Gonzalo Higuain opened the scoring in the first half but it needed a second from Cristiano Ronaldo in the 77th minute to make sure of the win, as Valencia belatedly threatened to get back into the game.
Real has 83 points with five left to play, one behind Barcelona, and proved that the 24-point gulf in class with third-placed Valencia was, perhaps, justified.
"Barcelona are still top but we are now just one slip-up away," Real director general Jorge Valdano told Spanish television.
Valencia's timid start played into Real's hands and it came as no surprise when Argentina's Higuain spun past his marker to net his 25th of the campaign after 25 minutes.
The hosts should have made more of their dominance, but a flying save from Iker Casillas and Juan Mata's follow up against the post reminded Real of the slenderness of its lead.
Ronaldo's driving runs and Guti's passes continued to give Real the edge but a hushed Bernabeu reflected a growing nervousness.
Valencia's David Silva had been anonymous until he crashed a 25-meter drive against the crossbar midway through the second half and Portugal's Ronaldo settled the match firing in after good work down the left from Marcelo.
Valencia has 59 points, five ahead of Sevilla which occupies the last Champions League qualification slot.
Athletic Bilbao was held to a scrappy 0-0 draw at home by struggling Real Zaragoza which left it seventh on 49 points below sixth-placed Villarreal because of its inferior head-to-head record. Villarreal beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 on Saturday.
There was no change at the foot of the standings in the battle to avoid relegation.
Only 18th-placed Tenerife managed a victory with a hat-trick from striker Nino earning the islanders a 3-2 victory against visiting Getafe.
"Nino's not good, he's spectacular," Tenerife coach Jose Luis Oltra told reporters, of his forward who has netted 13 this season. "He's one of the best Spanish goalscorers around, especially as he does it with a team low down in the table."
Tenerife closed to within a point of 17th place and safety after Malaga was held to a 0-0 draw at home by Real Valladolid.
Malaga has 33 points, Tenerife 32, Valladolid 29 and Xerez 27, the basement club coming back to draw 2-2 at home to Racing Santander with a late header from Victor Sanchez.
Real's title challenge appeared to be disappearing when it lost 0-2 to Barcelona last weekend but the champion's 0-0 draw at Espanyol on Saturday left the door ajar and Real grabbed the opportunity.
Gonzalo Higuain opened the scoring in the first half but it needed a second from Cristiano Ronaldo in the 77th minute to make sure of the win, as Valencia belatedly threatened to get back into the game.
Real has 83 points with five left to play, one behind Barcelona, and proved that the 24-point gulf in class with third-placed Valencia was, perhaps, justified.
"Barcelona are still top but we are now just one slip-up away," Real director general Jorge Valdano told Spanish television.
Valencia's timid start played into Real's hands and it came as no surprise when Argentina's Higuain spun past his marker to net his 25th of the campaign after 25 minutes.
The hosts should have made more of their dominance, but a flying save from Iker Casillas and Juan Mata's follow up against the post reminded Real of the slenderness of its lead.
Ronaldo's driving runs and Guti's passes continued to give Real the edge but a hushed Bernabeu reflected a growing nervousness.
Valencia's David Silva had been anonymous until he crashed a 25-meter drive against the crossbar midway through the second half and Portugal's Ronaldo settled the match firing in after good work down the left from Marcelo.
Valencia has 59 points, five ahead of Sevilla which occupies the last Champions League qualification slot.
Athletic Bilbao was held to a scrappy 0-0 draw at home by struggling Real Zaragoza which left it seventh on 49 points below sixth-placed Villarreal because of its inferior head-to-head record. Villarreal beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 on Saturday.
There was no change at the foot of the standings in the battle to avoid relegation.
Only 18th-placed Tenerife managed a victory with a hat-trick from striker Nino earning the islanders a 3-2 victory against visiting Getafe.
"Nino's not good, he's spectacular," Tenerife coach Jose Luis Oltra told reporters, of his forward who has netted 13 this season. "He's one of the best Spanish goalscorers around, especially as he does it with a team low down in the table."
Tenerife closed to within a point of 17th place and safety after Malaga was held to a 0-0 draw at home by Real Valladolid.
Malaga has 33 points, Tenerife 32, Valladolid 29 and Xerez 27, the basement club coming back to draw 2-2 at home to Racing Santander with a late header from Victor Sanchez.
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