ACTUALITE |
13.02.2005
Spain: FC Barcelona extends lead
MADRID - Samuel Eto`o scored his 17th goal of the season Saturday to give FC Barcelona a 4-1 win over Zaragoza and extend its lead to seven points atop the Spanish league.
The Cameroon international combined well with Brazil midfielder Ronaldinho to ensure Barcelona remained comfortably ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, who was to play Osasuna on Sunday.
In another match, Deportivo La Coruna upset third-placed Valencia 2-1, getting goals from Lionel Scaloni and Victor Sanchez at Valencia`s Mestalla Stadium.
On Sunday, the schedule included Sevilla vs. Villarreal; Racing Santander vs. Real Sociedad; Athletic Bilbao vs. Real Betis; Espanyol vs. Getafe; Numancia vs. Malaga; Mallorca vs. Albacete and Atletico Madrid vs. Levante.
Barcelona`s match began with Zaragoza`s Paraguayan defender Delio Toledo scoring an own goal in the second minute, sending a back-pass with too much pace past goalkeeper Ruben Falcon.
Barcelona doubled the lead in the 30th minute from a move that appeared to be offside when Ronaldinho chipped an overhead pass to Eto`o, who timed a perfect cross to France winger Ludovic Giuly in front of the net.
The kickoff was delayed because referee Carmona Mendez could not get the electronic device that alerts him to an offside call by the linesman to work.
The lack of the device was highlighted in the 11th minute when Argentine midfielder Luciano Galletti broke through the Barcelona defence, was signaled offside by the linesman but Mendez initially did not see the flag.
The Romareda Stadium crowd roared at what was thought to be a penalty, but instead was belatedly declared offside.
Ronaldinho set up a second in the 39th minute, again lobbing the ball over the defense and into the path of Eto`o, who controlled it and in turn lobbed the hapless Falcon.
Galletti tried to rally Zaragoza in the 63rd minute, taking control of the ball outside the penalty area, avoiding the Barcelona defense and scoring with a powerful right-footed strike.
Mexico fullback Rafael Marquez headed in from a corner taken by Xavi Hernandez in the 71st minute for Barcelona`s final goal.
Deportivo looked comfortable at Valencia and led in the 45th minute when Argentina midfielder Lionel Scaloni raced forward to score from a ball stolen off Ruben Baraja.
After the interval, Valencia looked more organized in attack and Marco Di Vaio took an accurate pass from Francisco Perez Rufete and tapped it in 50th minute to tie the game.
Deportivo rallied and midfielder Victor Sanchez showed a great first touch to set up the winning shot in the 73rd minute.
Veteran goalkeeper Santiago Canizares watched from the substitute`s bench for the first time since he arrived from Real Madrid in 1998, replaced by Andres Palop.
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Hits: 1 | Source:AP | |
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