Late Higuain goal puts Real back on top
Source: Agencies |
November 16, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
REAL Madrid climbed back above arch-rival Barcelona to the top of La Liga when Gonzalo Higuain netted a late winner in a labored 1-0 win at Sporting Gijon on Sunday.
Champion Barcelona had gone two clear with a Lionel Messi-inspired 3-1 home win over third-placed Villarreal on Saturday and Jose Mourinho's unbeaten Real side struggled to find a goal against a determined Gijon, whose goalkeeper Juan Pablo was on inspired form.
The match at a hostile Molinon had taken on added significance for the Asturian club after Mourinho suggested it had fielded a weakened side at Barcelona earlier this season because it did not seriously believe it could win.
The combative Portuguese had to watch the match from the stands after being sent off in Wednesday's Copa del Rey win over Real Murcia and banned from the bench for two matches.
Real's Argentina forward Higuain came close to finding the net in the 10th minute when his angled shot hit the post. Pablo produced three superb saves in the second half to deny Angel Di Maria, Higuain and substitute Karim Benzema but it was his handling error that led to Real's goal in the 82nd.
He blocked a headed Benzema effort but palmed the ball straight to Higuain who gleefully tapped the ball over the line from close range.
Gijon nearly equalized a minute later but Real keeper and captain Iker Casillas kept out a powerful downward header from David Barral.
It was Real's sixth straight league win and puts it on 29 points from 11 matches. Barcelona has 28 and Villarreal is on 23.
Champion Barcelona had gone two clear with a Lionel Messi-inspired 3-1 home win over third-placed Villarreal on Saturday and Jose Mourinho's unbeaten Real side struggled to find a goal against a determined Gijon, whose goalkeeper Juan Pablo was on inspired form.
The match at a hostile Molinon had taken on added significance for the Asturian club after Mourinho suggested it had fielded a weakened side at Barcelona earlier this season because it did not seriously believe it could win.
The combative Portuguese had to watch the match from the stands after being sent off in Wednesday's Copa del Rey win over Real Murcia and banned from the bench for two matches.
Real's Argentina forward Higuain came close to finding the net in the 10th minute when his angled shot hit the post. Pablo produced three superb saves in the second half to deny Angel Di Maria, Higuain and substitute Karim Benzema but it was his handling error that led to Real's goal in the 82nd.
He blocked a headed Benzema effort but palmed the ball straight to Higuain who gleefully tapped the ball over the line from close range.
Gijon nearly equalized a minute later but Real keeper and captain Iker Casillas kept out a powerful downward header from David Barral.
It was Real's sixth straight league win and puts it on 29 points from 11 matches. Barcelona has 28 and Villarreal is on 23.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
