Real rallies to go three points clear
Source: Agencies |
March 22, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
REAL Madrid fought back to beat Sporting Gijon 3-1 and move three points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga on Saturday while fourth-placed Sevilla slumped to a 0-2 defeat at Espanyol.
Sporting stunned the Santiago Bernabeu when David Barral scored against the run of play in the 53rd minute but it only took Manuel Pellegrini's side two minutes to equalize.
Rafael van der Vaart and Xabi Alonso struck in quick succession before Gonzalo Higuain calmed the nerves with a superb solo effort in the 68th, his 20th league goal of the campaign, as Real claimed its 14th win in 14 home games this season.
It has 68 points from 27 games ahead of champion Barcelona, which was at Zaragoza yesterday.
"We only have the league left to fight for and we have the responsibility to win every day," Real midfielder Esteban Granero told reporters. "We lacked fluidity in the first half but when they scored it stung us and we knew how to react."
Sevilla's surprise Champions League exit to CSKA Moscow in midweek appeared to have taken a heavy physical and mental toll as it was well beaten at lowly Espanyol, Argentine striker Pablo Osvaldo scoring a goal in each half.
Manolo Jimenez's side lost wingers Jesus Navas and Diego Capel to injury during the game and remains on 44 points, three points behind third-placed Valencia which is in the final automatic Champions League qualifying spot.
Athletic Bilbao climbed to sixth with 42 points, above Deportivo la Coruna, which lost 0-2 at Valladolid, on goal difference, despite being held 2-2 by visiting Getafe.
The Basque side took the lead through Pablo Orbaiz after 12 minutes before Getafe leveled through Manu del Moral in the 32nd.
Bilbao had Orbaiz sent off soon after but went back in front with a Fernando Llorente penalty in the 78th just after Getafe was reduced to 10 men following a red card for Miguel Torres. Pedro Leon grabbed a late equalizer for the visitors.
Sporting stunned the Santiago Bernabeu when David Barral scored against the run of play in the 53rd minute but it only took Manuel Pellegrini's side two minutes to equalize.
Rafael van der Vaart and Xabi Alonso struck in quick succession before Gonzalo Higuain calmed the nerves with a superb solo effort in the 68th, his 20th league goal of the campaign, as Real claimed its 14th win in 14 home games this season.
It has 68 points from 27 games ahead of champion Barcelona, which was at Zaragoza yesterday.
"We only have the league left to fight for and we have the responsibility to win every day," Real midfielder Esteban Granero told reporters. "We lacked fluidity in the first half but when they scored it stung us and we knew how to react."
Sevilla's surprise Champions League exit to CSKA Moscow in midweek appeared to have taken a heavy physical and mental toll as it was well beaten at lowly Espanyol, Argentine striker Pablo Osvaldo scoring a goal in each half.
Manolo Jimenez's side lost wingers Jesus Navas and Diego Capel to injury during the game and remains on 44 points, three points behind third-placed Valencia which is in the final automatic Champions League qualifying spot.
Athletic Bilbao climbed to sixth with 42 points, above Deportivo la Coruna, which lost 0-2 at Valladolid, on goal difference, despite being held 2-2 by visiting Getafe.
The Basque side took the lead through Pablo Orbaiz after 12 minutes before Getafe leveled through Manu del Moral in the 32nd.
Bilbao had Orbaiz sent off soon after but went back in front with a Fernando Llorente penalty in the 78th just after Getafe was reduced to 10 men following a red card for Miguel Torres. Pedro Leon grabbed a late equalizer for the visitors.
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