Real take control in Spain after
Barca draw
Barcelona completed a wretched week when they surrendered the
leadership of the Primera Liga to arch-rivals Real Madrid after
they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Real Betis on Sunday.
Barca, who saw their double dreams go up in smoke when they were
given a 4-0 mauling by Bernd Schuster's Getafe in the King's Cup in
midweek, looked to be heading for a nervous win after Ronaldinho
gave them an early lead from the penalty spot. But Betis dashed
their hopes of returning to the top of the table when Brazilian
striker Rafael Sobis took advantage of some shaky defending to
drill home at the near post two minutes from time.
The result means that with four games left to play Real and Barca
are level on 66 points but the nine-times European champions top
the standings by virtue of their better head-to-head record. It is
the first time that Real have ended a round of matches at the top
of the table since October 2005. "There are still games left to
play and we can't drop our heads now," said Barca coach Frank
Rijkaard. "It is a shame we didn't win but we have to retain our
pride. The league isn't decided yet."
Real went top on Saturday after staging a dramatic fightback to
come from 3-1 down to snatch a 4-3 win at home to Espanyol thanks
to a last-gasp strike from Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain.
Sevilla are in third, just two points behind the leaders, after
they warmed up for Wednesday's all-Spanish UEFA Cup final against
Espanyol with a 2-1 win over Recreativo Huelva on Saturday.
Valencia tightened their grip on fourth spot, and are now only four
points behind the leaders, after a classy 2-0 win at home to Real
Zaragoza, the goals coming from defender Emiliano Moretti and
talented forward David Silva.
RONALDINHO PENALTY
Barca looked as though they might be able to put their humiliating
Cup defeat behind them when they were awarded a penalty after Betis
defender Melli brought down Deco as he burst into the area in the
fifth minute. Ronaldinho smashed the spot kick high into the net to
take his tally for the season to 18 goals. Barca dominated
thereafter but despite spectacular efforts from Samuel Eto'o and
Andres Iniesta they were unable to extend their lead. Rijkaard
opted to try to safeguard the result by replacing Ronaldinho and
Lionel Messi after the break but his side never looked comfortable
in defence and keeper Victor Valdes had to produce several saves to
stop Betis from equalising.
Two minutes from time Betis midfielder Marcos Assuncao released
Sobis into a gap on the right and the striker beat keeper Victor
Valdes at the near post with a powerful low shot to the dismay of
the Nou Camp faithful. Earlier basement side Gimnastic Tarragona
were left with one foot in the second division after a 3-1 defeat
at home to fellow strugglers Real Sociedad.
Defeat means that the Catalans are now 10 points adrift of safety
with four games left to play. Celta Vigo also suffered a major blow
to their chances of avoiding the drop when they slumped to a 2-1
defeat at home to Levante in another relegation struggle, their
fourth defeat in a row under new coach Hristo Stoichkov.
