Almeria 2-1 Getafe
Athletic 1-2 Sevilla
Atletico 4-3 Barcelona
Espanyol 1-2 Real Madrid
Malaga 0-2 Recreativo
Numancia 0-1 Deportivo
Racing 1-1 Osasuna
Real Betis 2-2 Villarreal
Sporting 0-1 Mallorca
Valencia 1-2 Valladolid
How do you say ‘imploding’ in Catalan? Barcelona led 2-0 at the Vicente Calderon after just half an hour, courtesy of some magnificent goals from Henry and Messi, only to demonstrate their new-found fragility. Diego Forlan curled in a stunning left-footer to peg them back to 2-1, before Kun Aguero capitalized on a Rafa Marquez error to level things up on 56 minutes. More terrible defending, this time from the home side, allowed Eidur Gudjohnsen to square for Henry’s second to re-take the lead. Abel Resino’s men were not finished, however. With 10 minutes left Forlan got his second of the game from the penalty spot and Aguero then got his brace when he exploited a Puyol slip to finish wide of Victor Valdes to cue pandemonium in the red and white half of the Spanish capital. That is Barcelona’s second straight league defeat, meaning they are without a win in three matches and with the pressure mounting on this supposedly great Barcelona team to show some grit.
Of course, the main beneficiaries of Atletico’s win are their hated rivals ‘up north’, Real Madrid. Juande Ramos’s men were made to work very hard for their 2-0 victory over Espanyol, who played some excellent football belying their lowly league position. Nevertheless, Real showed the clinical edge necessary to challenge for the title after Guti’s stunning 30-yard free kick which Carlos Kameni could do nothing to stop – a magnificent strike from the veteran. Five minutes later, Raul sealed the win finishing from Marcelo’s cross – The skipper’s sixth goal in four games. That win means Real Madrid are now just four points off the leaders – it was not so very long ago that gap was 12 and seemingly unassailable. Is an astonishing title win on the cards for Los Merengues?
Sevilla maintained their grip on third with a hard-fought victory at Athletic Bilbao, coming from behind to take all three points from the San Mames. Igor Gabilondo’s low shot had given the hosts a 26th minute lead, but that man Fredi Kanoute scored a brace either side of half time – his 9th and 10th goals of the campaign to keep their Champions League campaign on track.
Villarreal remain in fourth despite surrendering a 2-0 lead away at Real Betis, who manage to simultaneously look good going forward and absolutely appalling at the back. The outstanding Santi Cazorla had given the visitors the lead with two well-taken goals before the verdiblancos, cheered on by a vociferous home crowd, fought back with goals from Sergio Garcia and Ricardo Oliveria, recording his fourth goal in his second spell in Andalusia.
Atletico’s win means there are now four teams tied on 39 points spanning 5th to 8th position. Valencia shot themselves in the foot not for the first time this season – Jonathan Sesma gave visitors Valladolid an early lead before Raul Albiol put through his own net with barely half an hour played. A David Villa-less Los Che struggled throughout and Carlos Marchena’s 70th minute strike proved only a consolation.
Deportivo join the group on 39 after a narrow win at doomed Numancia – Juan Rodriguez converting Lafita’s through ball to condemn the hosts and bottom side in La Liga to a 7th straight defeat. Malaga missed a chance to jump into fifth after a surprise 2-0 home defeat to Recreativo, who are themselves right in the relegation mix. Goals from Camunas and Colunga move Recre four clear of the drop zone.
Every time I say Almeria are in trouble, Alvaro Negredo appears to show me up. The ex-Real Madrid man is in the form of his life, 15 goals now this season following a brace here against Getafe, who had taken the lead through the Ecuadorian Joffre Guerron. Hugo Sanchez’s men now six clear of relegation while Getafe are looking nervously downwards.
Osasuna are two points off safety following a 1-1 draw at a patchy Racing Santander. Oscar Serrano had given the hosts the lead only to be cancelled out by Walter Pandiani’s 6th of the campaign. Racing’s home record continues to be their achilles’ heel – just two wins in 12 games at the Sardinero. Sporting Gijon slide further into trouble following the improving Mallorca’s 1-0 win courtesy of a sublime Juan Arango free kick. Numancia are 7 points from safety, Espanyol 6, Osasuna 2.
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