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Madrid victory piles pressure on Barca
February 5, 2012, Sunday
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REAL Madrid overcame windy conditions to win 1-0 at Getafe yesterday thanks to a Sergio Ramos goal and go 10 points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga ahead of the Catalans' game at home to Real Sociedad.
Without ever getting into top gear 'los blancos' did just enough to deserve the points at the scene of Barcelona's only defeat this season, but they had to survive a clear shout for a penalty by the home team in the second period.
Jose Mourinho decided to leave Gonzalo Higuain, linked this week with Chelsea, on the bench preferring Karim Benzema up front and recalled Xabi Alonso and stayed loyal to an improving Kaka in midfield.
Abdel Barrada had the first chance of the game for Getafe when he headed narrowly over the bar after just two minutes and the game was even until Madrid went ahead on 18 minutes.
Ramos outjumped Getafe defender Juan Valera to head home a Mesut Ozil corner for his third goal of the season and the only one of the game.
Getafe goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya had to be alert to stop a Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick on 35 minutes and three minutes later Miku went close at the other end with a header from a Juan Rodriguez free-kick, but chances were few and far between as both teams struggled to adapt to the conditions.
Moya again blocked a Ronaldo shot on 60 minutes and two minutes later he advanced quickly to block a shot from Benzema.
Getafe had a penalty claim turned down on 70 minutes when a Diego Castro shot appeared to strike Pepe's outstreched arm and their best chance to find an equaliser had gone.
Moya dived full length on 77 minutes to deny Higuain, who had replaced Benzema minutes before and Madrid played out the rest of the game comfortably holding on to their slim lead.
Earlier in the day Levante drew 1-1 at home to struggling Racing Santander to remain in fourth place in La Liga as Athletic Bilbao drew with Espanyol 3-3 in the clash between their two closest rivals.
The results means Levante stay ahead of Espanyol on goal difference with both teams on 32 points, four points behind 3rd-placed Valencia, who play on Sunday, and two points ahead of sixth-placed Bilbao.
In a frantic game Espanyol snatched a point with a last-minute equaliser from Uruguayan Juan Albin, who smashed home a pass from substitute Kalu Uche.
Earlier, Oscar De Marcos had put Bilbao ahead on 25 minutes, only for Koffi Romaric to even the game up seven minutes later.
Within two minutes of the restart Vladimir Weiss, on loan from Manchester City, put the visitors ahead with a dipping drive from 25 yards before Spanish international centre-forward Llorente levelled the game on 57 minutes and Javi Martinez headed home an Ander Herrera cross to put Bilbao 3-2 ahead.
Espanyol fully deserved a point for their part in an entertaining game that keeps both teams in the hunt for European classification.
Arouna Kone headed home a Pedro Botelho cross to put Levante ahead on 23 minutes.
However, Santander found a way back on 60 minutes when Manuel Arana produced an unstoppable left-footed shot from the edge of the area to grab a vital point for them.
Mallorca beat Real Betis 1-0 thanks to a well-struck Chori Castro free-kick on 23 minutes.--AFP
Without ever getting into top gear 'los blancos' did just enough to deserve the points at the scene of Barcelona's only defeat this season, but they had to survive a clear shout for a penalty by the home team in the second period.
Jose Mourinho decided to leave Gonzalo Higuain, linked this week with Chelsea, on the bench preferring Karim Benzema up front and recalled Xabi Alonso and stayed loyal to an improving Kaka in midfield.
Abdel Barrada had the first chance of the game for Getafe when he headed narrowly over the bar after just two minutes and the game was even until Madrid went ahead on 18 minutes.
Ramos outjumped Getafe defender Juan Valera to head home a Mesut Ozil corner for his third goal of the season and the only one of the game.
Getafe goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya had to be alert to stop a Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick on 35 minutes and three minutes later Miku went close at the other end with a header from a Juan Rodriguez free-kick, but chances were few and far between as both teams struggled to adapt to the conditions.
Moya again blocked a Ronaldo shot on 60 minutes and two minutes later he advanced quickly to block a shot from Benzema.
Getafe had a penalty claim turned down on 70 minutes when a Diego Castro shot appeared to strike Pepe's outstreched arm and their best chance to find an equaliser had gone.
Moya dived full length on 77 minutes to deny Higuain, who had replaced Benzema minutes before and Madrid played out the rest of the game comfortably holding on to their slim lead.
Earlier in the day Levante drew 1-1 at home to struggling Racing Santander to remain in fourth place in La Liga as Athletic Bilbao drew with Espanyol 3-3 in the clash between their two closest rivals.
The results means Levante stay ahead of Espanyol on goal difference with both teams on 32 points, four points behind 3rd-placed Valencia, who play on Sunday, and two points ahead of sixth-placed Bilbao.
In a frantic game Espanyol snatched a point with a last-minute equaliser from Uruguayan Juan Albin, who smashed home a pass from substitute Kalu Uche.
Earlier, Oscar De Marcos had put Bilbao ahead on 25 minutes, only for Koffi Romaric to even the game up seven minutes later.
Within two minutes of the restart Vladimir Weiss, on loan from Manchester City, put the visitors ahead with a dipping drive from 25 yards before Spanish international centre-forward Llorente levelled the game on 57 minutes and Javi Martinez headed home an Ander Herrera cross to put Bilbao 3-2 ahead.
Espanyol fully deserved a point for their part in an entertaining game that keeps both teams in the hunt for European classification.
Arouna Kone headed home a Pedro Botelho cross to put Levante ahead on 23 minutes.
However, Santander found a way back on 60 minutes when Manuel Arana produced an unstoppable left-footed shot from the edge of the area to grab a vital point for them.
Mallorca beat Real Betis 1-0 thanks to a well-struck Chori Castro free-kick on 23 minutes.--AFP
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