Tough match for FC BARCELONA against last placed XEREZ who are fighting for their 1º Division life. The home team won 3-1 but this scoreline "distorts" the reality of this match. Barça had to resort to Messi & Pique in the 2ºhalf in order to bring back a steady "hand" to secure their 3 points.
In the 1ºst half young JEFFREN scored for Barça in the 14th min & that was followed by HENRY with the second in the 22nd min. However, Xerez pulled one back quickly via a fabulous goal from BERMEJO that shifted the balance to the visitors. From here & up until the end of the 45 minutes Barça were against the ropes with a draw looking more a possibility.
But this match was also a rough affair, with lots of physical contact that ended with TWO Red cards given to Xerez (Alastiza & Orellana). This & the inclusion in the 2ºhalf of Messi & Pique shifted the balance again in Barça´s favour & IBRAHIMOVIC scored the third goal in the 51st min to calm the situation & take the match to good port for his side.
Three maximum valuable points that allows Barça to now plan the big Champions League game against Inter Milan & keep for now the Spanish League top spot. By the way, as an informative note, Barça equals its historical points in a season with 87.
REAL ZARAGOZA are looking at the 2º Division abyss & they haven´t the idea of beautiful Football in their heads at this precise moment. Instead they are fighting with tooth & nails, & tonight gave Real Madrid a torrid & very physical match that nearly paid off for them. REAL MADRID were pushed & slapped around all game with chilling physical tactics that cost Zaragoza in the end a red card in the 2ºhalf, & this played an important part in their 1-2 defeat.Real Madrid lost Van Der Vaart to injury in the 14th min & this allowed Captain RAUL to get a good run tonight. As always he took his chance & scored his teams opener in the 51st min from a Ronaldo pass. However, with Zaragoza down to 10 men & even more "angry" COLUNGA managed to surprise the Madrid defence & equalize in the 60th min.
Certain panic entered into the Real Madrid game as they were witnessing before their eyes how the Spanish League title was slipping from their hands. Then in the 82nd min Cristiano Ronaldo passed to KAKÁ, who was back after a long spell from injury, to score the winner & give his team the precious 3º points along with a huge sigh of relief for all Madrid followers.With this worked victory Real Madrid continues to keep the pressure on FC Barcelona & will go home thinking that tonight was indeed a close call.
VALENCIA CF won 1-0 DEPORTIVO & in the process retain the 3ºrd place on the Spanish League table & keep at bay Mallorca who are a close third breathing down their necks. The winning goal came in the 33rd min after a hand-ball was given in the penalty area in favour of Valencia to which DAVID VILLA converted for his 21st personal goal this season.
