Real rallies to trim gap with Barca
Source: Agencies |
April 17, 2010, Saturday
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CRISTIANO Ronaldo scored a trademark solo goal and Rafael van der Vaart struck a clinical winner to give Real Madrid a 2-1 comeback victory at mid-table Almeria on Thursday and keep alive its La Liga title hopes.
Leader Barcelona followed up Saturday's 2-0 victory over Real with a 3-0 home win against Deportivo Coruna on Wednesday to go six points clear on 83 but Real's success in Andalucia has trimmed the gap back to three with six games left.
Almeria came under some early pressure before an unmarked Albert Crusat gave the home side a surprise lead in the 14th minute, sweeping a low Kalu Uche cross past Real keeper Iker Casillas.
World Cup-bound Portugal forward Ronaldo sliced through the home defense to level with an angled shot in the 27th and Real squandered several chances to grab the lead before halftime.
Midfielder Guti struck a powerful drive against the post on the half hour and Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain had an effort cleared off the line before Van der Vaart lashed home from just outside the penalty area in the 69th.
"We still have a chance to win the league but we have to win all our remaining matches," the Netherlands midfielder, who will be a key member of the Dutch team at the World Cup, said.
"I had a lot of chances and missed two or three in the first half so I'm very happy with the goal," he added.
Real is out of the Champions League and the Copa del Rey and remain in danger of ending the season without any silverware despite an investment of close to a quarter of a billion euros (US$341 million) in players for this season.
President Florentino Perez spent a record 94 million euros to buy Ronaldo from Manchester United and the 25-year-old's goal against Almeria was his 19th in the league this season, eight short of Barca's La Liga top scorer Lionel Messi on 27.
"At the start we were a bit flat because of what happened on Saturday (against Barcelona) but then we got into the match very well and created a lot of chances," Ronaldo told reporters.
"We didn't play a fantastic match but we managed to win and that's the important thing."
Barca, the Spanish and European champion, can stretch its La Liga lead back to six points with a win at city rival Espanyol on Saturday and plays the first leg of its Champions League semifinal at Inter Milan on Tuesday.
Real hosts third-placed Valencia on Sunday, with Unai Emery's side a massive 21 points behind it after its 2-0 home win over Athletic Bilbao in Thursday's late kickoff.
Spain midfielder David Silva struck either side of halftime at the Mestalla to lift Valencia seven points clear of fourth-placed Real Mallorca.
Leader Barcelona followed up Saturday's 2-0 victory over Real with a 3-0 home win against Deportivo Coruna on Wednesday to go six points clear on 83 but Real's success in Andalucia has trimmed the gap back to three with six games left.
Almeria came under some early pressure before an unmarked Albert Crusat gave the home side a surprise lead in the 14th minute, sweeping a low Kalu Uche cross past Real keeper Iker Casillas.
World Cup-bound Portugal forward Ronaldo sliced through the home defense to level with an angled shot in the 27th and Real squandered several chances to grab the lead before halftime.
Midfielder Guti struck a powerful drive against the post on the half hour and Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain had an effort cleared off the line before Van der Vaart lashed home from just outside the penalty area in the 69th.
"We still have a chance to win the league but we have to win all our remaining matches," the Netherlands midfielder, who will be a key member of the Dutch team at the World Cup, said.
"I had a lot of chances and missed two or three in the first half so I'm very happy with the goal," he added.
Real is out of the Champions League and the Copa del Rey and remain in danger of ending the season without any silverware despite an investment of close to a quarter of a billion euros (US$341 million) in players for this season.
President Florentino Perez spent a record 94 million euros to buy Ronaldo from Manchester United and the 25-year-old's goal against Almeria was his 19th in the league this season, eight short of Barca's La Liga top scorer Lionel Messi on 27.
"At the start we were a bit flat because of what happened on Saturday (against Barcelona) but then we got into the match very well and created a lot of chances," Ronaldo told reporters.
"We didn't play a fantastic match but we managed to win and that's the important thing."
Barca, the Spanish and European champion, can stretch its La Liga lead back to six points with a win at city rival Espanyol on Saturday and plays the first leg of its Champions League semifinal at Inter Milan on Tuesday.
Real hosts third-placed Valencia on Sunday, with Unai Emery's side a massive 21 points behind it after its 2-0 home win over Athletic Bilbao in Thursday's late kickoff.
Spain midfielder David Silva struck either side of halftime at the Mestalla to lift Valencia seven points clear of fourth-placed Real Mallorca.
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