Barca five points behind Real after draw against Espanyol
January 9th, 2012 - 3:35 pm ICT by IANS
Madrid, Jan 9 (IANS) FC Barcelona dropped five points behind Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga following a 1-1 draw with Espanyol Sunday.
Barca could only draw away to neighbours Espanyol in a thrilling and controversial game. Against an inspired and motivated home side, Barca took the first half lead through a Cesc Fabregas header, which was their 100th goal in all competitions this season.
However, Espanyol regrouped in the second half and Barca never looked comfortable, although it appeared they would hang on for a vital win. Alvaro Vazquez scored a header five minutes from time to make it 1-1, Xinhua reported.
An exciting game still had time for more drama and Barcelona should have had a penalty in the 92nd minute following a clear handball in the Espanyol penalty area by Raul Rodriguez, but referee Turienzo Alvarez waved away Barca’s desperate appeals.
Sunday’s matches kicked off with Rayo Vallecano returning to win at home against Sevilla. Jose Antonio Reyes made his return for the visitors after completing his move from Atletico Madrid Thursday.
Goals from Micho and Raul Tamudo gave Rayo a 2-0 lead, before Julien Escude pulled a goal back for the visitors with half an hour remaining.
Athletic Bilbao have now gone eight years without ever winning away to Getafe, but Marcelo Bielsa’s side took a point for a dull 0-0 draw in the Alfonso Perez Coliseum.
Aritz Aduriz scored a late equaliser to give Valencia a 2-2 draw away to Villarreal and ruin Jose Molina’s debut as home coach. Marco Ruben and Gonzalo Rodriguez put Villarreal 2-0 up after just 17 minutes, but Sofiane Feghouli pulled one back before the break and Aduriz’s goal three minutes from time assured a share of the points.
Betis chalked up their third consecutive win with a 2-0 triumph over struggling Sporting Gijon.
Roque Santa Cruz scored in the first half and Jorge Molina rounded off the scoring in the 91st minute of a game in which Sporting had to play all of the second period with a man less after Alberto Lora was sent off for getting two yellow cards.
- Barcelona move closer to Real Madrid with 4-1 win - Apr 08, 2012
- Real Madrid extend La Liga lead - Nov 21, 2011
- Valencia hold Barcelona to 2-2 draw - Sep 22, 2011
- Barcelona win easy in La Liga, Real maintain 10-point lead - Feb 20, 2012
- Real Madrid steer seven points clear of Barcelona - Jan 29, 2012
- Barcelona beat Sporting Gijon to top Spanish League - Oct 03, 2011
- Real Madrid on brink of La Liga title - Apr 30, 2012
- Barca trail one point behind Real after crushing victory - Apr 11, 2012
- Real cruise as Barca lose in Spanish football - Nov 27, 2011
- Real Madrid blank Espanyol to keep lead in La Liga - Mar 05, 2012
- Barca crush Atletico, Real thrash Rayo - Sep 25, 2011
- Real Madrid come from behind to win against Mallorca - Jan 15, 2012
- Villarreal back to winning ways in Primera Liga - Sep 21, 2011
- Real Madrid retain 10-point lead over Barcelona - Feb 27, 2012
- Real Madrid, Barcelona win easy in La Liga - Jan 23, 2012
Tags: alfonso perez, athletic bilbao, atletico madrid, cesc fabregas, escude, espanyol, fc barcelona, getafe, gonzalo rodriguez, home coach, jorge molina, jose antonio reyes, jose molina, marcelo bielsa, micho, raul rodriguez, raul tamudo, real madrid, roque santa cruz, sporting gijon