Barcelona back top, Real Madrid keep up pressure
BARCELONA hit three goals in ten late first-half minutes to get back into the game against Tenerife and eventually ran out 5-0 winners. Lionel Messi bagged a hat-trick to send the champions back on top of the league.
Victor Valdes had saved three one-on-ones in the early stages, the first deflecting on to the crossbar, before Barca found any kind of rhythm in the face of frenetic pressuring from their hosts.
Bojan Krkic, in for the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic, set up Messi for the opener in the 36th minute and Carles Puyol headed the second from a Messi free kick in the 44th.
Messi poked in the third after excellent approach play from Andres Iniesta and Krkic, the Argentine lobbed the fourth, his 12th of the campaign, from outside the area in the 75th and defender Ezequiel Luna scored an own goal to complete the rout.
Real Madrid had put the pressure on Barcelona by sweeping aside Real Mallorca 2-0 at the Bernabeu on Sunday.
With snow falling in the stadium, Gonzalo Higuain and Esteban Granero scored at the beginning of each half and only a series of fine saves by visiting keeper Dudu Aouate prevented a heavier defeat. Mallorca, who started the weekend in fourth, were never allowed to get into their stride and rarely threatened.
Valencia strengthened their hold on third position with a comfortable win at rock-bottom Xerez.
The hosts, who have now accumulated just seven points from 17 games, threatened a surprise when Carlos Calvo cancelled out Juan Mata’s opener. But Valencia upped their game to outplay their valiant, if limited, opponents. David Silva restored their lead and a fine solo effort from Carlos Marchena settled matters.
Malaga stretched their unbeaten run to 10 matches in all competitions but remain in the relegation zone after an eighth draw of the campaign against Athletic Bilbao.
La Rosaleda have not been defeated since the start of November but a failure to close out victories means they are still battling the drop. Fernando Llorente was responsible for earning Bilbao a share of the spoils, earning and scoring a late penalty after Weligton’s opening goal at the start of the second half.
Sporting Gijon ended a dismal recent run with a narrow defeat of Getafe. Diego Castro put Sporting Gijon in front after 39 minutes and the strike proved to be the winner.
Getafe’s Daniel Cata Diaz hit the post with a header after 57 minutes but it was the closest the visitors came as they suffered just a second loss in their last seven league games.
Espanyol returned to winning ways thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 win at home to struggling Real Zaragoza. The win sees the Barcelona-based side move five points clear of the relegation zone after 17 rounds. But it proved hard work for the Catalans.
Espanyol took the lead through Joan Verdu after 13 minutes, but were pegged back by Javier Arizmendi’s leveller shortly before the break.
However, Mauricio Pochettino’s side looked the most likely and Fernando Marques grabbed the winner from close-range with just under 20 minutes remaining.
Juan Rodriguez kept Deportivo Coruna in the hunt for a Champions League place next season with a fine turn and shot securing a 1-0 home win over Osasuna.
Rodriguez eventually gave Miguel Angel Lotina’s men the lead four minutes after the break, but Deportivo were unable to extend their lead, even after Osasuna had Javad Nekounam sent off halfway through the second period for bringing down Andres Guardado. — ESPN
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