The story appears on

Page B16

February 8, 2010

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

HomeSportsSoccer

Nine-man Barca eases past Getafe

LEADER Barcelona survived red cards for Gerard Pique and Rafael Marquez to complete a 2-1 victory over Getafe in La Liga on Saturday while Real Madrid kept pace with a 3-0 win at home to Espanyol.

Pique was sent off in the 25th minute for a wild challenge on Rafa Lopez. Marquez walked at the end after bundling over Kepa for a last-minute penalty scored by Roberto Soldado but the game was effectively over by then.

Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the seventh and Xavi netted in the 67th as Barca. "You only manage this with commitment, a great deal of belief and by running a lot. The players have been marvellous," Barca coach Pep Guardiola said.

The unbeaten champion moved on to 55 points from 21 games, and remained five ahead of Real, which comfortably swept aside Espanyol.

Sergio Ramos headed in from a freekick early on and Kaka doubled the lead after Carlos Kameni could only parry a Raul header in the 30th. Gonzalo Higuain returned from injury to grab a third at the end.

Earlier, Valencia spoiled Onesimo Sanchez's debut as Real Valladolid coach, winning 2-0 to stay third with 42 points.

In France, Girondins Bordeaux saw its lead at the top of Ligue 1 cut to three points after going down 2-4 at Stade Rennes on Saturday.

Earlier, Montpellier cut the gap at the top with a 2-0 win at second-from-bottom Boulogne-sur-Mer through goals from Souleymane Camara and Victor Montano.

Bordeaux leads the table with 48 points ahead of Montpellier on 45 with third-placed Lille, which drew 1-1 at Nice, on 41.


 

Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

娌叕缃戝畨澶 31010602000204鍙

Email this to your friend