La Liga Week 11 action - Ibra sends Galacticos packing
Thursday 03 December 2009
After all the build-up and excitement, it was time for the football to do the talking as Barcelona lined up against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou in the first El Clasico of the season. Both sides threatened in the opening period, but neither side could find the goal the game deserved. Cristiano Ronaldo missed a wonderful opportunity to steal the world’s attention in the 19th minute when Kaká dribbled his way through the Barca defence and teed him up, but his tame shot was saved by the feet of Victor Valdés.
The champions, roused by an impressive showing from their rivals, made a change shortly after half-time, bringing on Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the disappointing Thierry Henry. The sub made an instant impact, latching on to a sumptuous, cross-field ball from Dani Alves to volley past Casillas in the 55th minute, sending the Camp Nou into pandemonium. The visitors were given a lifeline when Sergio Busquets foolishly handled the ball to collect his second yellow card just five minutes later, but the Catalans kept the ball well and neutralized Madrid’s attacking threat, closing out the game for a hard-earned 1-0 win.
In the night’s other big game, it was Spain’s two great cities again at war as Atlético Madrid played host to Espanyol. The struggling home side started the match in the bottom three, but started brightly and were ahead after 27 minutes when Diego Forlán dispatched a loose ball past a stranded Carlos Kameni. Sergio Agüero then doubled the lead with a pin-point free-kick, before scoring his second and setting up Maxi Rodriguez to complete the 4-0 win - his side’s most convincing performance of the season.
Sevilla and Valencia missed the chance to close the gap on the top two as they could only both draw against Málaga and Mallorca respectively. Luis Fabiano salvaged a point with a brace for Sevilla after they went 2-0 down, while Valencia threw away a deserved lead after controlling much of the game against determined opposition. David Villa put the home side ahead, but Los Che succumbed to a late equalizer when Bruno Saltor gave away a needless penalty in the 85th minute. Both sides end the week as they started it - in third and fourth place respectively.
Deportivo La Coruña are level on points with Valencia in fifth place after grinding out a 1-0 win at Racing Santander. Alberto Lopo scored the decisive goal, capitalizing on a goal-mouth scramble to maintain Deportivo’s impressive early form. Sporting Gijón also kept their strong run going, edging out a 1-0 win over Villarreal at El Molinón courtesy of a late Mate Bilic goal. They now lie in sixth, one point behind Mallorca.
Xerez’s woes continue as they were embarrassed at the hands of Getafe. Aythami put the visitors ahead after 33 minutes, but the home side responded with five goals in six minutes, including a rapid-fire hat-trick from Roberto Soldado, ensuring that the league’s bottom side remains at the summit of the table.
Athletic Bilbao built on last week’s impressive draw with Barcelona with a 4-1 demolition of Almería at the Estadio del Mediterráneo. Javi Martínez, Ustaritz, Fernando Llorente and Óscar de Marcos were all on target for the visitors, who remain in eighth position. Tenerife came back from three goals behind to salvage a point against Valladolid, whilst Osasuna beat Zaragoza 1-0 at the Estadio La Romareda.
Full results
Saturday November 28, 2009
Sevilla 2-2 Málaga
Valencia 1-1 Mallorca
Sporting Gijón 1-0 Villarreal
Sunday November 29, 2009
Barcelona 1-0 Real Madrid
Racing Santander 0-1
Deportivo La Coruña
Real Zaragoza 0-1 Osasuna
Getafe 5-1 Xerez
Valldolid 3-3 Tenerife
Almería 1-4 Athletic Bilbao
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