La Liga Season 10/11

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Sevilla confident of Champions League berth


Sevilla confident of Champions League berth

2 December 2010

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Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido believes the team can still qualify for the Champions League, despite a poor start to the season.

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Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido believes the team can still qualify for the Champions League, despite a poor start to the season. The Spanish club, who take on Paris Saint-Germain in the Europa League on Thursday night, lie eighth in La Liga, five points off the top four.

But del Nido says they have the experience to climb the table, and stay there. "We shouldn't get carried away and overreact, because Sevilla can still get one of the Champions League spots," del Nido said. "At the end of the season we will be there, just as we have been for the last seven years."

"What hurts me most as a president and as member number 202 of Sevilla is that people disrespect us and downplay the glory of this club." Del Nido also responded to controversy surrounding comments made by manager Gregorio Manzano, who said Sevilla needed " be more ambitious, more involved in the game from the first minute".

But del Nido said it was fair that Manzano expected so much from his players. "It has to be as it always has been here. Eight and a half years here mean a lot. Eight finals, seven European qualifications ... this isn't a telling off, it's a reflection. I have seen real tellings off from the manager and these were reasonable reflections."

 

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Roundup-Ronaldo likely to recover for Valencia game


Roundup - Ronaldo likely to recover for Valencia game

09:35 GMT, Fri 3 Dec 2010

MADRID, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Brief news from La Liga ahead of this weekend's matches: (All times GMT):

* Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to make Real Madrid's home clash with Valencia on Saturday (2100), after pulling out of Spain/Portugal's bid presentation for the 2018 World Cup finals to focus on recovery from a bruised right ankle.

Gonzalo Higuain's back injury means French striker Karim Benzema will get another chance to improve on his one La Liga goal so far this season.
Spain duo Raul Albiol and Alvaro Arbeloa will probably step in for suspended defenders Sergio Ramos and Ricardo Carvalho.

* Real's 5-0 'Clasico' defeat in Barcelona on Monday has not done Valencia any favours, veteran midfielder David Albelda said on Friday."It will be worse for us." he told sports daily AS. "Seeing their record at the Bernabeu (Real have won every game) it's difficult to find a match where they have scored less than three goals.

"Valencia will probably have to use third-choice goalkeeper Vicente Guaita, with Cesar and Miguel Angel Moya struggling with injuries.

* Lionel Messi missed Barcelona training on Thursday with a bruised left ankle, but is expected to be fit for Saturday's trip to play Osasuna (1900), who have yet to lose a home game this season.

"They are very tough and they never stop running, but we aren't worried about their physical approach. It'll be a great game," Barca forward Jeffren told reporters.

* Sevilla lost their third game in a row when they went down 4-2 at Paris St-Germain in the Europa League and they will need to improve at the back on Sunday (1800) against third-placed Villarreal, who are unbeaten at the Madrigal.

"We have made mistakes in three consecutive games now, but we have quality in the side. Everyone was happy with the defence a few weeks ago and they remain good players," striker Frederic Kanoute told reporters.

* Atletico Madrid travel to promoted Levante on Saturday (1700) looking for a lift after consecutive home defeats, the most recent to Aris Salonika that left them on the brink of elimination from the Europa League.

"We have a great squad and we are capable of turning this round. All we need to do is win on Saturday," winger Jose Antonio Reyes told reporters. "We aren't doing well bit it isn't all bad either."

* Promoted Real Sociedad are relishing the visit of near neighbours Athletic Bilbao on Sunday (2000) and the first Basque derby in four years has already sold out their 32,000 seat Anoeta stadium.

"It's the best game of the year," La Real striker Joseba Llorente told reporters. "We're in good form. We'll go for them and will be snapping at their heels. We have to run and run and run."

* La Liga's bottom two meet when Real Zaragoza visit Almeria on Sunday (1600). Zaragoza's new coach Javier Aguirre takes on Almeria's new boss Jose Luis Oltra in a battle between a side without an away win, and hosts who have yet to win at home.

 

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Air strike puts Spanish fixtures in doubt


Air strike puts Spanish fixtures in doubt

4 December 2010

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Commuters waits for a flight at Madrid Bajaras airport. A wildcat strike by air traffic controllers which has produced Spain´s first state of alert since the return to democracy on the 1975 death of Franco has thrown several of the country´s football fixtures into doubt

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MADRID (AFP) - A wildcat strike by air traffic controllers which has produced Spain's first state of alert since the return to democracy on the 1975 death of Franco has affected the country's football fixtures with leaders Barcelona having their match postponed to Sunday.

With almost all airports affected by the controllers' walkout there were fears that several matches would not go ahead and with Barca still stuck on the east coast but due to face Osasuna across towards the northwest on Saturday evening league authorities decided to postpone the match.

Media indicated the Spanish League (RFEF) had decided the game would be rescheduled for 1600 GMT Sunday although there was no immediate confirmation from the organisation.

A Barcelona statement had earlier read the club was "waiting on new information." Barcelona added that "the 19 players and the technical staff are still in the dressing rooms at the Nou Camp waiting for news of the situation at El Prat airport," from where they were due to fly out for the game. Media reports indicated that the Catalan club would make the 480km trip by train later Saturday and then transfer to a bus.

Valencia were meanwhile due to face Real Madrid in the capital Saturday evening but they too faced being held up and so travelled late Friday by bus.

Real's city rivals Atletico Madrid had been due to make essentially the same journey in reverse, going out to face Levante, but they likewise elected to head over by bus on Friday and avoid the fate of thousands of people forced to sleep in airport lounges.

The strike has caused chaos with thousands of flights cancelled at a time when many Spaniards are looking to take a mini-winter break as Monday and Wednesday are public holidays. Many also take Tuesday off and take five days.

Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero elected to place air traffic control under the control of the country's military amid a row over work hours. Controllers are also unhappy at government plans to trim ballooning public debt by part privatising privatising airport operator AENA.

The strike has caused the gravest crisis in Spain's skies since Iceland's Eyjafjoell volcano erupted in April, forcing the world's biggest shutdown since World War II with 100,000 flight cancellations in two months.

 

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Atletico in crisis, says coach after third defeat in row


Atletico in crisis, says coach after third defeat in row

8 hours, 33 minutes ago

MADRID, Dec 4 (Reuters) - A third defeat in a week has left Atletico Madrid in crisis, coach Quique Sanchez Flores said after their 2-0 La Liga reverse at promoted Levante on Saturday. Levante, who had lost five of their previous six games, dominated throughout and scored through Nano in the third minute and Felipe Caicedo in the 59th.

Goalkeeper David de Gea prevented a heavier defeat as Atletico, despite having Argentina’s Sergio Aguero and Uruguay’s Diego Forlan up front, struggled to create chances until late in the game. “It’s a defeat without any positives,” said Sanchez Flores. “The first goal condemned us and the second was a public execution.

“We are going through difficult times, times of crisis and now what we have to do is manage our way through this crisis. We have gone from heaven to hell in a week and now we have to turn it round.” Atletico, who also lost to Espanyol last weekend, are seventh with 20 points from 14 games but are in danger of slipping further with their rivals still to play this weekend.

The defence of their Europa League title also hangs in the balance after a midweek defeat to Aris Salonika. The Greeks are at home to bottom club Rosenborg Trondheim in their final match in two weeks when Atletico visit Group B leaders Bayer Leverkusen. Aris only have to match Atletico’s result to go through to the last 32.

(Writing by Mark Elkington, editing by Tony Jimenez.

 

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Barca match delayed 50 mins after late arrival


Barca match delayed 50 mins after late arrival

20:01 GMT, Sat 4 Dec 2010

MADRID, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Barcelona arrived by coach in Pamplona to play their La Liga match against Osasuna minutes before the scheduled start time of 1900 GMT, forcing a 50 minute delay to the kickoff time on Saturday. The Spanish champions were forced to make a hurried 350-km trip by train and bus to Pamplona, after originally believing they had an agreement to postpone the game to Sunday, the club said.

A wildcat strike by air traffic controllers had caused travel chaos at the start of a holiday weekend in Spain and Barca were unable to take their flight to Pamplona on Saturday morning. After Barca put out a statement to this effect saying an agreement had been reached, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) and Osasuna quickly denied it, to say the match would go ahead as planned.

Spanish airspace opened again later in the afternoon, but Barca had set off by train to Zaragoza from where they transferred to a coach. "They (RFEF) had assured us that if the air space wasn't opened the match would be postponed," Barca vice-president Jordi Cardoner was quoted as saying in Spanish media.

"At 1.30 in the afternoon, the federation confirmed the postponement to our president and at 3 o'clock for unknown reasons they changed their opinion and told us the match would go ahead as planned. "Obviously there has been a misunderstanding." Failure to attend the match could have led to them being given a 3-0 defeat, with the additional deduction of three points.

After the Spanish champions had put out their statement to say the game had been postponed to Sunday, Osasuna put out a contradictory statement to say they had had no official confirmation of the change. A spokesman for the RFEF backed Osasuna's claim.

"The game has not been postponed," he told Reuters by telephone. "The RFEF expect the weekend's matches to go ahead as planned and the Barca game to be played at 1900. There is still time. "If Barca don't turn up, the disciplinary committee will have to decide what to do."

Saturday's other two matches were unaffected. Valencia travelled by coach to the Spanish capital on Friday afternoon to play Real Madrid on Saturday (2100), while Atletico Madrid went in the opposite direction, also by coach, in order to play Valencia-based Levante at 1700, a match they lost 2-0.

 

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Messi inspires Barcelona after late travel scare


Messi inspires Barcelona after late travel scare

21:55 GMT, Sat 4 Dec 2010

MADRID, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Barcelona shrugged off a last-minute dash by train and bus to Pamplona to defeat Osasuna 3-0 in La Liga on Saturday, securing their position at the top of the table for another week.

A wildcat strike by Spanish air traffic controllers led to Pep Guardiola's side arriving at the Reyno de Navarra stadium just before the start time of 1900 GMT, forcing a 50-minute delay to the kickoff. Despite limited preparation time the champions overcame a shaky start to win with one goal from Pedro and two from an irresistible Lionel Messi.

The Argentine's third came from the penalty spot near the end and took his tally in the league this season to 15. Barca have 37 points from 14 matches, five ahead of second-placed Real Madrid who were hosting Valencia in the late game.

Atletico Madrid slumped to a 2-0 defeat at promoted Levante, making it three defeats in a week for the misfiring Europa League holders.

Defender Nano headed Levante in front from a corner after three minutes and Ecuador striker Felipe Caicedo sealed the win with a wonderful finish in the 59th.

Atletico, who lost 3-2 at home to Espanyol and Aris Salonika over the past week, stayed seventh with 20 points.

(Writing by Mark Elkington, editing by Tony Jimenez.)

 

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Real Madrid 2-0 Valencia


Real Madrid 2-0 Valencia

Cristiano Ronaldo leads the team to victory and tallies 16 goals in La Liga

Fernando Porrero / Translation by Michael J. O'Donnell

The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium was packed to see the Real Madrid-Valencia match tonight that ended in a 2-0 victory for the Whites. The crowd was with the team 100%, never admonishing it for last week's defeat in the Clasico.

Lass made the starting lineup while Benzema stayed on the bench. Cristiano Ronaldo was the team's main striker, supported by Ozil and Di Maria. On the other hand, Valencia relied on the talents of Mata, Joaquin and Jordi Alba in their search for goals.

Khedira and Cristiano came close to scoring just before half-time, but the German's shot hit goalkeeper Guaita's body and a wonderful heel-shot by Ronaldo ricocheted off one of the posts.

Cristiano had another chance to score as soon as the second half began, but the goalie cleared the ball and a corner-kick was awarded. One minute later, Di Maria tried to lob the ball over Guaita inside the box, but the keeper guessed his intentions.

Benzema came on for Khedira on the 53-minute mark. The change moved Ronaldo to the wings and Karim became the main striker. The Frenchman had a spectacular shot on target that was cleared yet again by Guaita.

Albelda was sent off with a second booking in the 64th minute for controlling the ball with his shoulder. The moment of truth had arrived for the Madridistas; Ozil controlled the ball on the 72-minute mark, served it to Ronaldo and the Portuguese star scored the opener very close to the goal-line. One minute later, Ozil was replaced by Granero.

Soldado and Joaquin came close to scoring strikes each, but Casillas saved the day on both counts. Referee Perez Lasa failed to award a penalty to Real Madrid when Di Maria was tackled inside the box (76'). With ten minutes left in the game, the Argentine was substituted by Diarra; Mourinho looked for greater control of the game and to avoid last minute surprises.

On the 86-minute mark, Ronaldo scored an incredible goal after dribbling the ball for 20 metres and defeatting both Ricardo Costa and Guaita. This tremendous effort sealed an efficient and serious performance by Real Madrid.

 

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Villarreal, Espanyol stay in touch with leaders


Villarreal, Espanyol stay in touch with leaders

By Mark Elkington
22:29 GMT, Sun 5 Dec 2010

MADRID, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Villarreal and Espanyol clung to the coat-tails of the La Liga leaders on Sunday with home wins that owed much to their attractive style of attacking football.

Nilmar struck the only goal as Villarreal beat Sevilla 1-0 at the Madrigal, maintaining their unbeaten home record this season and putting them third with 30 points from 14 matches.

Espanyol are two points behind in fourth after surviving the 52nd minute sending-off of midfielder Raul Baena to beat Sporting Gijon 1-0. Luis Garcia struck the winner in the 70th minute to maintain the Barcelona-based club's 100 percent record at Cornella-El Prat.

Champions Barcelona are top with 37 points after their 3-0 victory at Osasuna on Saturday, when Real Madrid stayed second with 35 following their 2-0 home victory over Valencia.

Villarreal's neat passing game carved open struggling Sevilla after 30 minutes, when Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi picked out Nilmar's run and the Brazilian rounded Andres Palop to score.

SEVILLA SLUMP

Sevilla had two goals ruled out and home keeper Diego Lopez made a fine late save from Fernando Navarro, but it was not enough and Gregorio Manzano's visitors slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat. "Seeing the results this weekend, and the defeats for teams such as Valencia and Atletico Madrid, this is a great result," Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido told reporters. "It gives us a six-point cushion in the Champions League places, though there is still a long way to go."

In Barcelona, Espanyol's Baena was shown a harsh second yellow card after 52 minutes, but Mauricio Pochettino's side continued to boss the game. Their winner came when Pablo Osvaldo dinked a ball over the top for strike partner Garcia to score and Sporting slipped into the bottom three. "We should try and keep our feet on the ground and work with humility," Pochettino told reporters. "We never changed our philosophy of play despite going down to 10 men."

Athletic Bilbao defender San Jose had a nightmare Basque derby as his side lost 2-0 at Real Sociedad, conceding a penalty for a handball in the area after 26 minutes. Xabi Prieto netted from the spot at the second attempt and San Jose buried a shot high into his own net as he looked to cut out a cross.

Getafe beat visiting Real Mallorca 3-0 and Manuel Pellegrini's Malaga returned to winning ways with a 4-1 hammering of Racing Santander.

 

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Xavi, Iniesta and Messi on Ballon d'Or shortlist


Xavi, Iniesta and Messi on Ballon d'Or shortlist

By Diane Falconer
12:09 GMT, Mon 6 Dec 2010

PARIS, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Spain's World Cup winners Xavi and Andres Iniesta were joined by holder Lionel Messi on an all-Barcelona shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or announced on Monday.

Iniesta scored the winning goal in Spain's World Cup final victory over the Netherlands in Johannesburg in July and, along with his midfield partner Xavi and Argentina forward Messi, helped Barcelona to win the Spanish league title.

Messi had a disappointing World Cup by his own high standards, failing to score in the tournament as Argentina, coached by Diego Maradona, suffered a 4-0 defeat by Germany in the quarter-finals.

Vicente del Bosque of Spain, the man who masterminded Spain's first World Cup success, made the shortlist for the Coach of the Year award along with Barcelona's Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho, who won the Champions League with Inter Milan.

The winners will be announced on Jan. 10 in Zurich. The honour was formerly organised solely by France Football magazine but has now merged with FIFA's World Player of the Year.

 

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Real's Dudek out for six weeks with fractured jaw


Real's Dudek out for six weeks with fractured jaw

08:33 GMT, Thu 9 Dec 2010

MADRID, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Real Madrid's reserve goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek fractured his jaw in their 4-0 Champions League win over Auxerre and could be out for around six weeks, the La Liga club said on Thursday.

The Polish former Liverpool player, making a rare start, was forced off just before halftime after colliding with Auxerre forward Roy Contout on Wednesday. A scan showed the extent of the damage, Real said on their website (www.realmadrid.com).

Dudek has had an eventful few weeks as he was one of four Real players fined over allegations Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos engineered deliberate red cards in last month's Champions League game at Ajax Amsterdam.

Dudek appeared to relay messages from coach Jose Mourinho to first-choice keeper Iker Casillas, who then passed them on to the two outfield players.

 

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PREVIEW - Sociedad want Herculean effort at Barcelona


PREVIEW - Sociedad want Herculean effort at Barcelona

By Iain Rogers
01:03 GMT, Thu 9 Dec 2010

MADRID, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Real Sociedad have outperformed since climbing back into the top flight this season and are looking to emulate fellow promoted side Hercules when they play at leaders Barcelona in La Liga on Sunday (2000 GMT).

The San Sebastian-based club lie sixth after 14 of 38 matches and have put fellow Basques Athletic Bilbao, whom they beat 2-0 last weekend, in the shade with a string of impressive home performances.

Hercules stunned Barca 2-0 at the Nou Camp in September, a first home defeat in the league for the Catalan giants since May 2009, and Sociedad defender Mikel Gonzalez believes he and his team mates are capable of causing another upset.

Barca, however, are riding high after thrashing arch rivals Real Madrid 5-0 in the "Clasico" late last month and World Cup-winners Andres Iniesta and Xavi, along with Argentina forward Lionel Messi, were named on the three-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or award this week.

"Taking on the best players in the world is an incentive and an honour," Gonzalez said at a news conference on Wednesday. "I would by no means rule out imitating what Hercules did," he added. "Knowing that they managed to win there gives you a boost in confidence and hope."

Barca, who rested most of their first team in Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League victory over Rubin Kazan, have a two-point lead over Real at the top of the standings with just over a third of the season played.

The Madrid club can climb back above them with a win at last-placed Real Zaragoza earlier on Sunday (1800) having put their crushing defeat in the Catalan capital behind them with a 2-0 home victory over Valencia last weekend.

ACCUMULATING POINTS

Villarreal are third, five points behind Real, and play at ninth-placed Getafe on Saturday (1700).

With La Liga already shaping up as another two-horse race between Barca and Real, Villarreal defender Mateo Musacchio said the club were focusing on putting distance between themselves and their rivals for lucrative European qualification spots.

"The more points we accumulate and the bigger the gap we open up the better but we know that there is a long way to go," the Argentine told a news conference on Wednesday. "We are in very good shape and can cope with any team but we have to maintain our current form," he added.

Espanyol, who are fourth, two points behind Villarreal, play at Bilbao on Sunday (1600) and coach Mauricio Pochettino said he doesn't want his players to be distracted by Dec. 18's home game against city rivals Barca.

"The Bilbao one is the most important match and I won't rest anyone," the former Argentina international told a news conference. "Anyone who comes to the stadium thinking about Barca is no use to me and would be better staying at home."

 

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Sevilla not panicking: Manzano


Sevilla not panicking: Manzano

10 December 2010

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Sevilla manager Gregorio Manzano is refusing to panic despite the Spanish club's alarming slide down the La Liga table.

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Sevilla manager Gregorio Manzano is refusing to panic despite the Spanish club's alarming slide down the La Liga table.

Sevilla have dropped their past three league matches, including home losses to Mallorca (2-1) and Getafe (3-1) and a 1-0 defeat at Villarreal. The form slump has seen Manzano's side fall to 10th on the table, but they could find themselves as high as sixth if they can defeat lowly Almeria at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday.

The 54-year-old manager, who took over at the Andalusian club in September following Antonio Alvarez's sacking, believes the key to achieving this is to remain calm and build confidence on the pitch. "One shouldn't create anxiety in this situation that doesn't lead to anything," Manzano told reporters.

"The first objective right now is to get the team back on form in terms of results. That will bring back the necessary confidence." "If this continues, then we will climb up the league again. We can say that we are close to the position, because it is mathematically possible."

 

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Villarreal slump to 1-0 loss at battling Getafe


Villarreal slump to 1-0 loss at battling Getafe

By Iain Rogers
23:24 GMT, Sat 11 Dec 2010

MADRID, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Villarreal squandered the chance to move within two points of second-placed Real Madrid when they leaked a late goal to lose 1-0 at Getafe in La Liga on Saturday despite having an extra man for more than half the match.

Without suspended Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi, Villarreal lacked their usual bite in attack and substitute Juan Albin snatched the winner for Getafe in the 89th minute after their defender, Daniel Diaz, had been sent off just before halftime.

Uruguayan midfielder Albin, whose low shot squirmed just inside the post, was also dismissed as he celebrated the goal by removing his shirt and was shown a second yellow card.

Third-placed Villarreal have 30 points from 15 matches behind Real Madrid, who have 35 and can climb above leaders Barcelona (37) at least for a few hours with a win at bottom side Real Zaragoza (1800) on Sunday.

Champions Barca host promoted Real Sociedad in the late kickoff (2000).

Atletico Madrid ended a run of three defeats in all competitions when a Sergio Aguero double gave them a 2-0 win at home to Deportivo Coruna in the late kickoff. Depor goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia saved Diego Forlan's fifth-minute penalty before Aguero, whom local media reported on Saturday had agreed a contract extension, struck twice before halftime to lift Atletico to sixth spot.

PENALTY SAVED

Sevilla striker Frederic Kanoute had a first-half penalty saved as the Andalusians' poor run continued when they lost 3-1 at home to lowly Almeria in the regional derby. The Mali international pulled a goal back to make it 2-1 in the 83rd before Almeria's Pablo Piatti scored his second of the night to condemn Sevilla to a fourth straight defeat, prompting disgruntled whistling at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.

Villarreal and Getafe, watched by Spain coach Vicente del Bosque, cancelled each other out in the first period at the Coliseum in Madrid before Diaz was dismissed in the 41st minute. The referee brandished a straight red card at the Argentine defender after he cut down Villarreal's pacy Brazilian striker Nilmar in full flight.

The numerical advantage immediately lifted the visitors. Nilmar burst clear moments before the break but his low shot was well saved by Jordi Codina's outstretched leg. Villarreal's Spain midfielder Santi Cazorla and former international Marcos Senna saw plenty of the ball but were unable to unlock a determined home defence and Francisco Casquero's header set up Albin to snatch the win.

Getafe climb to seventh on 23, level on points with Atletico but with a worse goal difference. Espanyol are in fourth spot on 28 points ahead of their trip to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday while fifth-placed Valencia have 24 before hosting Osasuna on Monday.

INSPIRED FORM

Almeria goalkeeper Diego Alves was on inspired form in Sevilla and parried Kanoute's spot kick after the referee ruled Fabian Vargas had handled in the area. Colombian midfielder Vargas made amends by nodding the visitors in front three minutes after halftime, although television replays suggested Renato managed to hook the ball clear before it crossed the line.

Argentine striker Piatti cut inside and lashed a superb long-range drive in off the bar in the 81st before Kanoute gave Sevilla hope two minutes later when he scored from close range. But a miserable night for Sevilla, missing the injured Luis Fabiano and Jesus Navas, was complete when defender Alexis Ruano was shown a second yellow and Piatti grabbed Almeria's third goal moments later with a clever backheel.

After a tribute before kickoff at the Calderon to former Atletico player and coach Marcel Domingo, who died in his native France on Friday aged 86, Aguero sped on to a Jose Antonio Reyes pass and cut inside to put the home side ahead.

The Argentine's second came after he exchanged passes with midfielder Raul Garcia and beat Aranzubia with a clipped shot. Sevilla have 20 points in 10th place and Almeria are 18th in the 20-team standings on 13.

 

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Barcelona keep Real at bay in Spanish league


Barcelona keep Real at bay in Spanish league

Tim Hanlon

<cite>December 13, 2010 - 10:14AM

</cite>Cristiano Ronaldo (C) of Real Madrid celebrates with his team mates Pepe, Mezut Ozil (L) and Marcelo Vieira (R) after scoring Real's second goal during the La Liga match between Real Zaragoza and Real Madrid at La Romareda stadium on December 12, 2010 in Zaragoza, Spain. Credit: Getty Images

Barcelona produced another magical display of attacking football to sweep aside Real Sociedad 5-0 and return to the La Liga summit on Sunday. Following Real Madrid's 3-1 victory over Real Zaragoza, the onus was on Barcelona to maintain their two-point advantage and they took the game to their opponents from the start.

With just eight minutes gone David Villa gave them the lead by converting a Pedro Rodriguez cross and from there it only got worse for Sociedad. Barca added to their total when a fine passing movement culminated with an Andres Iniesta goal from a tight angle.

Lionel Messi, at his tantalising best, then hit a brace and there was still time for substitute Bojan Krkic to hit a fifth, a minute from the end. "We are not aware of what these players are going to do. This normally may happen once or twice but it is happening all the time at the moment and we are privileged to be able to work with them," said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

Real gave a more workmanlike performance to overturn bottom club Zaragoza. With several players missing through injury and suspension, Real survived a wasted chance for the home side's Angel Lafita, before taking the lead when Mesut Ozil cut in from the right and beat the keeper.

Either side of the break Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria scored to give Real a commanding advantage but Zaragoza never gave in. Gabi Fernandez pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after Nicolas Bertolo had been felled by Ricardo Carvalho.

After the game Real coach Jose Mourinho was critical of the referee who showed yellow cards to Marcelo and Xabi Alonso, ruling them out of the next game against Sevilla. "I am not angry with Marcelo but I am about the situation. It is easy to give yellow cards to Real Madrid players and they are given out less to other teams. It seems that players from other teams can protest and at Real Madrid they can't," said Mourinho.

Espanyol were unable to capitalise on third-place Villarreal's 1-0 defeat by Getafe as a spectacular free-kick from substitute David Lopez gave Athletic Bilbao a 2-1 victory.

Athletic have only lost twice at home this season - to Barcelona and Atletico Madrid - but were in trouble after Pablo Osvaldo gave high-flying Espanyol a deserved lead.

In the second half Espanyol defended deeply, looking to hold on to their advantage and they paid the price with first Fernando Llorente heading home and then substitute Lopez firing an excellent 30-yard free-kick which nestled in the top corner.

Mallorca were hoping to bounce back after a disappointing 3-0 defeat by Getafe last week but they were beaten 1-0 by Racing Santander with Oscar Serrano scoring in the final minute.

Hercules took Malaga apart in the second half to win 4-1 after conceding an early goal from Sebas Fernandez. David Trezeguet started the comeback before further goals from Royston Drenthe, Abraham Paz and Kiko Femenia.

Sporting Gijon and Levante came out with honours even in their relegation battle which ended 1-1 with Felipe Caicedo's opener for Levante cancelled out by an Sebastian Eguren goal.

On Saturday, a brace by Sergio Aguero led Atletico Madrid to a 2-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna. It was Aguero's night as he first won a penalty after being upended by keeper Daniel Aranzubia but Diego Forlan missed the follow-up spot-kick. Not long later Aguero did find the back of the net with a jinking run and shot, and then added to it ten minutes before half time.

Lowly Almeria produced an inspired performance to beat Sevilla 3-1 and pile the pressure on the troubled Andalusian side.

© 2010 AFP

 

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Barcelona vs Real Sociedad 5 - 0
All Goals & Match Highlights - 12.12.2010


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Real Zaragoza 1 Real Madrid 3
All Goals - 12.12.2010

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Osasuna fight-back dents Valencia's European hopes


Osasuna fight-back dents Valencia's European hopes

14 December 2010

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Osasuna's forward Carlos Aranda reacts during the Spanish league football match Valencia vs Osasuna at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia.

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BARCELONA (AFP) - Struggling Osasuna won only their second point away from home all season as they stormed back to draw 3-3 against Valencia and put a dent in their rival's Champions League hopes on Monday.

Valencia went into the game looking to close the gap on the top four with Villarreal and Espanyol both losing at the weekend but in the end it was Osasuna who were celebrating having recorded just one previous point away against Deportivo la Coruna.

"It was a game in which both teams had a half in which they were superior and in the second-half we were unable to cope with Osasuna's attacks," said Valencia coach Unai Emery. "We worried about conceding an equaliser and that was what happened. We have to be critical of ourselves and be stronger."

Meanwhile Osasuna coach Jose Antonio Camacho praised the way his side battled back at 3-1 down. "We didn't deserve to be two goals down but in the second half it was all us," he said.

"With ten minutes to go we were losing and that was not just but we did not give up and were able to claim something from the game." Valencia were lively in attack and Roberto Soldado had already wasted a good opening before he broke the deadlock mid-way through the first half.

Defender Mario Stankevicius, forward for a corner, slotted in a loose ball in the area to double the lead and while Juanfran Torres pulled a goal back, Aritz Aduriz headed home a Joaquin Sanchez corner to give them a comfortable cushion at half-time.

Osasuna were showing plenty of invention but little clinical finishing. They benefitted though from a goalkeeping howler from Cesar Sanchez as he came and failed to claim a cross allowing Miguel Flano to score.

In a grandstand finish substitute Carlos Aranda stabbed the ball into the back of the net as the Valencia defence once again failed to clear their lines.

On Sunday Argentinian superstar Leo Messi had scored a brace as Barcelona produced another excellent exhibition of attacking football to beat Real Sociedad 5-0 and maintain their two point lead at the top of the table.

The onus was on them after Real Madrid had earlier beaten bottom side Real Zaragoza 3-1 but they never looked troubled with David Villa, Andres Iniesta and Bojan Krkic scoring the other goals.

Their quality in attack has led Xavi to claim this is the best Barca side he has played for. "I have been at this club for a long time and we have never been at this level before. "It is a luxury and a privilege that Barca are in this situation.

"Each game the team wants more and we never tire of competing and winning titles. We have grown up with our families along with Barca and we are students of this school which deserves the acclaim."

 

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La Liga preview: David and Goliath tussle


La Liga preview: David and Goliath tussle

17 December 2010

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Espanyol will be counting on vocal home support in an effort to contain rivals Barcelona in La Liga on Saturday.

The Catalan capital's second club have long lived in the shadow of the more glamorous Barca, who have developed a knack for upstaging their long-suffering neighbours.

In April 2006 Espanyol beat Barca in the final of the Copa Del Rey, only for Barca to secure a double of league championship and European Cup just a month later.

In 2009 they moved from the hand-me-down Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to the new Estadi Cornella-El Prat, but the official opening came with Barca still crowing over their unprecedented treble of La Liga title, Copa del Rey and Champions League just months earlier.

Barca secured yet another league title last season, but could only manage a 0-0 draw on their first visit to the Cornella, with goalkeeper Victor Valdes admitting the hostile environment made an immediate impression.

"In my career I've played in some tough stadiums and last year (at the) Cornella was an intense match," Valdes said. "The fans are close to the goalkeeper. But any player likes playing in that kind of stadium, because of the extra motivation given by the atmosphere."

It remains to be seen if a boisterous crowd can make a difference as Espanyol attempt to stem the blue and red tide that is threatening to swamp the Spanish top flight.

League leaders Barca are unbeaten since their shock round two home defeat to Hercules and face Espanyol after thrashing Real Sociedad 5-0 at Camp Nou.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, welcome Sevilla to the Santiago Bernabeu, battling a mounting injury crisis and well aware that any slip-ups are likely to result in Barca stretching their two-point lead further.

Third-place Villarreal are at home to Mallorca, while Valencia - who gave away a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 at home to Osasuna on Monday - make the trip to promoted Real Sociedad.

The bottom two, Real Zaragoza and Sporting Gijon, visit Osasuna and Deportivo La Coruna respectively, while third-bottom Malaga host Atletico Madrid, who surrendered their Europa League title with a group stage exit on Thursday.

Levante and Almeria, struggling near the relegation zone, are at home to Athletic Bilbao and Getafe respectively, before Racing Santander meet Hercules on Monday.