Sunday, January 29, 2006
Barcelona now one win away from league record.
MADRID (AFP) - Barcelona ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Real Mallorca to extend their lead at the top of the Spanish first division to 12 points and notch up their 14th straight league victory.
"It wasn't the best football we have played this season but there are sometimes nights like this. Mallorca didn't give us many chances but we didn't lose the ball very often and that was good enough," said Barca coach Frank Rijkaard.
The Spanish giants' latest triumph, with two goals from Argentine teenage wonder Lionel Messi after an opener by Ludovic Giuly, moved them to within one win of equalling the league record of 15 consecutive victories.
Real Madrid established that record in the 1960-61 season but Barca will be able to stand alongside their bitter rivals if they beat Atletico Madrid in the Nou Camp next Sunday.
Ironically, Atletico are the only side to have beaten Barca in the league this season.
Giuly put Barca in front after 40 minutes, his shot from just inside the area coming after a long ball from Deco.
Mallorca were then reduced to 10 men when Eduardo Tuzzio got his second yellow card after 72 minutes and then Messi made the most of the advantage with two goals in the last 15 minutes.
The Catalan club added to their league lead after Valencia had to settle for a point with a 2-2 draw with Real Zaragoza.
Valencia left it late but two goals in the last eight minutes kept them in second place and extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games.
"That was a dose of craziness," admitted a relieved Valencia coach Quique Flores.
"We managed to get a point out of a game that we had done almost nothing in before the first goal. We were completely cold during the first half," added Flores.
The 2004 champions were under pressure from the start and Zaragoza got a deserved goal two minutes into injury time at the end of the first half.
Sergio Garcia nipped between two defenders and picked up a Diego Milito pass before becoming the first person to get the ball past Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Canizares in six league games.
Ewerthon then got Zaragoza's second goal, his eighth of the season, the Brazilian finding the net from close range after 63 minutes.
Zaragoza were reduced to 10 men for the final nine minutes after David Generelo received his second yellow card and Valencia managed to get back on level terms.
A stunning right foot strike by second half substitute Patrick Kluivert, who had only been on the pitch five minutes, was followed by Pablo Aimar heading an equaliser two minutes from time.
Real Madrid moved up to third by beating Celta Vigo 2-1 after Osasuna lost for the first time at home this season, going down 2-0 to Real Betis.
Robinho opened the scoring for Real after just 16 minutes but Mattias Lequi headed Celta back level five minutes before half time.
Right back Cicinho then put Real ahead after 57 minutes, finding the net from close range.
Celta threw everything at the visitors in the final half hour.
They looked to have got an equaliser when a David Silva shot was fluffed by Real keeper Iker Casillas and appeared to cross the line but the referee Fernando Teixeira Vitienes didn't give a goal.
The win preserved Real's unbeaten record since the start of 2006.
Betis took the lead at Osasuna through Luis Fernandez's lob from the edge of the area after 34 minutes.
Edu then headed home a Joaquin Sanchez free kick right on the hour to ensure Osasuna's third successive defeat.
At the other end of the table, struggling Alaves notched up their first home victory of the season with a 3-1 win over Real Sociedad.
Alaves midfielder Santiago Carpintero blasted the ball home from the edge of the area on the half hour and John Aloisi added two second half goals before Dalibor Stevanovic got a late consolation goal for Sociedad.
Malaga slumped to the foot of the table after their 3-1 loss at Espanyol.
Spanish international Raul Tamudo got two goals for the Barcelona-based side in the first 20 minutes and Luis Garcia quickly added Espanyol's third before Alexis Ruano got one back for Malaga just before the break.
"It wasn't the best football we have played this season but there are sometimes nights like this. Mallorca didn't give us many chances but we didn't lose the ball very often and that was good enough," said Barca coach Frank Rijkaard.
The Spanish giants' latest triumph, with two goals from Argentine teenage wonder Lionel Messi after an opener by Ludovic Giuly, moved them to within one win of equalling the league record of 15 consecutive victories.
Real Madrid established that record in the 1960-61 season but Barca will be able to stand alongside their bitter rivals if they beat Atletico Madrid in the Nou Camp next Sunday.
Ironically, Atletico are the only side to have beaten Barca in the league this season.
Giuly put Barca in front after 40 minutes, his shot from just inside the area coming after a long ball from Deco.
Mallorca were then reduced to 10 men when Eduardo Tuzzio got his second yellow card after 72 minutes and then Messi made the most of the advantage with two goals in the last 15 minutes.
The Catalan club added to their league lead after Valencia had to settle for a point with a 2-2 draw with Real Zaragoza.
Valencia left it late but two goals in the last eight minutes kept them in second place and extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games.
"That was a dose of craziness," admitted a relieved Valencia coach Quique Flores.
"We managed to get a point out of a game that we had done almost nothing in before the first goal. We were completely cold during the first half," added Flores.
The 2004 champions were under pressure from the start and Zaragoza got a deserved goal two minutes into injury time at the end of the first half.
Sergio Garcia nipped between two defenders and picked up a Diego Milito pass before becoming the first person to get the ball past Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Canizares in six league games.
Ewerthon then got Zaragoza's second goal, his eighth of the season, the Brazilian finding the net from close range after 63 minutes.
Zaragoza were reduced to 10 men for the final nine minutes after David Generelo received his second yellow card and Valencia managed to get back on level terms.
A stunning right foot strike by second half substitute Patrick Kluivert, who had only been on the pitch five minutes, was followed by Pablo Aimar heading an equaliser two minutes from time.
Real Madrid moved up to third by beating Celta Vigo 2-1 after Osasuna lost for the first time at home this season, going down 2-0 to Real Betis.
Robinho opened the scoring for Real after just 16 minutes but Mattias Lequi headed Celta back level five minutes before half time.
Right back Cicinho then put Real ahead after 57 minutes, finding the net from close range.
Celta threw everything at the visitors in the final half hour.
They looked to have got an equaliser when a David Silva shot was fluffed by Real keeper Iker Casillas and appeared to cross the line but the referee Fernando Teixeira Vitienes didn't give a goal.
The win preserved Real's unbeaten record since the start of 2006.
Betis took the lead at Osasuna through Luis Fernandez's lob from the edge of the area after 34 minutes.
Edu then headed home a Joaquin Sanchez free kick right on the hour to ensure Osasuna's third successive defeat.
At the other end of the table, struggling Alaves notched up their first home victory of the season with a 3-1 win over Real Sociedad.
Alaves midfielder Santiago Carpintero blasted the ball home from the edge of the area on the half hour and John Aloisi added two second half goals before Dalibor Stevanovic got a late consolation goal for Sociedad.
Malaga slumped to the foot of the table after their 3-1 loss at Espanyol.
Spanish international Raul Tamudo got two goals for the Barcelona-based side in the first 20 minutes and Luis Garcia quickly added Espanyol's third before Alexis Ruano got one back for Malaga just before the break.
