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La Liga action round-up - Week 7 - October 24-25, 2009
Wednesday 28 October 2009
Barcelona treated their fans to a masterclass in attacking football as they beat Real Zaragoza 6-1 at the Camp Nou. It was Seydou Keita, playing alongside Xavi in midfield, who put the home side ahead on 25, latching onto a perfectly weighted cross from Lionel Messi to head past Juan Carrizo. Zlatan Ibrahimovic doubled the lead 12 minutes later with a thunderous free-kick from 30 yards out, and it was the Swede who orchestrated Barca’s third - playing a sumptuous ball across the face of goal for Keita tap in from close range.
If the visitors had felt demoralised at half-time, more was to come for the hapless Zaragoza. Keita and Ibrahimovic linked up again for the striker to score his second of the match, and despite a brief rally, aided by a shock goal from Jorge López, the champions continued to outclass their opponents. Lionel Messi was in dazzling form and was rewarded for his efforts on 80 when his delightful chip left Carrizo stranded in no man’s land. The rout was completed when Keita rose to meet an Andres Iniesta corner to power home his header and register an impressive hat-trick. The team’s sublime performance was the perfect response to their 0-0 draw with Valencia a week ago and gave the clearest indication yet that the side had rediscovered the scintillating form which lit up world football last season.
Real Madrid lost ground to their rivals as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Sporting Gijón. Los Blancos were without the attacking quartet of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuaín, Karim Benzema and Ruud Van Nistelrooy, and their lack of creativity was apparent from the outset. Kaká, flanked by Esteban Granero and Royston Drenthe in midfield, failed to establish a foothold in the game and was largely frustrated by the organised and efficient Gijón defence. The fixture generated few chances, and the home side seemed content to take a point from the depleted Galácticos, who now lie three points behind leaders Barcelona. Sevilla suffered the same fate as their rivals as they failed to break down a stubborn Espanyol side at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, and are now six points adrift in third position.
Villarreal overcame Málaga at El Madrigal to register their first win of the campaign. The Yellow Submarine showed no signs of looking deflated after their cruel midweek defeat at the hands of Lazio in the Europa League, and were the better team throughout the encounter. Nilmar put the home side ahead after 26 minutes but they were hit with a sucker punch as Albert Luque equalised just before half-time. Villarreal continued to probe, however, and were deservedly ahead again when Joan Capdevila squeezed a long-range free-kick past Gustavo Munúa. The home side held on to complete the win, which lifted them off the bottom of the table. The seemingly stricken Málaga replace them at the foot of the pile.
Atlético Madrid continue to struggle after being held to a home draw by Mallorca. Los Indios, led by former assistant boss Santi Deani following the sacking of coach Abel Resino, took the lead in the 52nd minute when Diego Forlán converted from the penalty spot, but they couldn’t hold on to the lead and succumbed to a late equalizer when Borja Valero, on loan from West Bromwich Albion, beat David De Gea at his near post to stun the 55,000-strong crowd inside the Vicente Calderón. Atlético now have seven points from eight matches and are languishing in 17th place.
Valencia maintained their rich form with an impressive 3-0 win at Almería. The home side were hampered when goalkeeper Diego Alves was sent off after bringing down Pablo shortly after the interval, and Valencia capitalised on their opponents’ misfortune with a wonderful second-half display. Pablo picked out the imperious David Villa to head home the visitors’ first on 54, before doubling his side’s lead 20 minutes later with a stunning, 40-yard lob over the head of substitute goalkpeeper Esteban. Juan Mata confirmed the win for los Che, firing home a late strike to complete the scoring in a comprehensive win.
Elsewhere in La Liga, Valladolid pulled off the shock of the weekend when they thumped fifth place Deportivo La Coruña 4-0 at the José Zorrilla. Getafe are in 8th place after a routine 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, who are without a win in five matches after their impressive start. Racing Santander and Osasuna shared the points as they drew 1-1 at El Sardinero, while Tenerife edged out a 1-0 win over Xerez in a gritty encounter.
Full Results
Saturday October 24, 2009
Sevilla 0-0 Espanyol
Sporting Gijón 0-0 Real Madrid
Atlético Madrid 1-1 Mallorca
Sunday October 25, 2009
Barcelona 6-1 Zaragoza
Almería 0-3 Valencia
Villarreal 2-1 Málaga
Racing Santander 1-1 Osasuna
Getafe 2-0 Athletic Bilbao
Tenerife 1-0 Xerez
Valladolid 4-0 Deportivo La Coruña
La Liga action round-ups
Week 1 - August 29/30/31, 2009
Week 2 - September 12/13, 2009
Week 3 - September 19/20, 2009
Week 4 - September 22-27, 2009
Week 5 - October 3/4, 2009
Week 6 - October 17/18, 2009
Week 7 - October 24/25, 2009
See the full list of OLBG's free Football Tips here.
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