Real held as La Liga title race heats up
Source: Agencies |
March 23, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
REAL Madrid conceded a late free-kick to draw for the second time in four days as it was held 1-1 at struggling Villarreal, cutting its lead at the top of La Liga cut to six points on Wednesday.
Villarreal's Marcos Senna curled a free-kick around the wall and just wide of a full stretch Iker Casillas in the 82nd minute at the Madrigal and Real lost its heads.
Coach Jose Mourinho, Sergio Ramos and Mesut Ozil were all sent off in the following minutes and the visitors failed to add to Cristiano Ronaldo's wonderful 62nd-minute strike.
Real, seeking to prevent Barcelona's fourth consecutive title, climbed to 72 points with 10 matches left but second-placed Barcelona, which was 10 points adrift last week, was now just six points behind on 66.
"We still have to improve in many areas," Real's Brazilian defender Marcelo told Spanish television. "Today we conceded at a set piece again but we are still ahead and we need to keep on working. We aren't nervous. Any team would want to be in our situation with a six-point lead."
Villarreal's experienced new boss Miguel Angel Lotina, in the post since Monday as its third coach of the campaign, had his side fired up and it caused Real plenty of problems.
Nilmar caught out the visiting defense on a number of occasions, and Casillas was forced into some smart saves.
Most of the action was down the other end, but Real failed to take its chances, until Ronaldo scored. The Portuguese played a one-two with Mesut Ozil, the German returning the ball with a deft backheel, for his 33rd of the campaign.
Villarreal's Marcos Senna curled a free-kick around the wall and just wide of a full stretch Iker Casillas in the 82nd minute at the Madrigal and Real lost its heads.
Coach Jose Mourinho, Sergio Ramos and Mesut Ozil were all sent off in the following minutes and the visitors failed to add to Cristiano Ronaldo's wonderful 62nd-minute strike.
Real, seeking to prevent Barcelona's fourth consecutive title, climbed to 72 points with 10 matches left but second-placed Barcelona, which was 10 points adrift last week, was now just six points behind on 66.
"We still have to improve in many areas," Real's Brazilian defender Marcelo told Spanish television. "Today we conceded at a set piece again but we are still ahead and we need to keep on working. We aren't nervous. Any team would want to be in our situation with a six-point lead."
Villarreal's experienced new boss Miguel Angel Lotina, in the post since Monday as its third coach of the campaign, had his side fired up and it caused Real plenty of problems.
Nilmar caught out the visiting defense on a number of occasions, and Casillas was forced into some smart saves.
Most of the action was down the other end, but Real failed to take its chances, until Ronaldo scored. The Portuguese played a one-two with Mesut Ozil, the German returning the ball with a deft backheel, for his 33rd of the campaign.
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