| 4 - 1 |
| ||||||
| Lionel Messi 49 | José Barkero 61 | |||||||
| Samuel Eto'o 53 | ||||||||
| Thierry Henry 71 | ||||||||
| Lionel Messi 76 |
Barcelona opened a 15-point gap at the top of La Liga thanks to a comfortable 4-1 victory over Numancia at the Nou Camp.
The visitors were denied an early lead when Javier Del Pino's header was ruled out, presumably for a push on Andrés Iniesta as he leapt.
Lionel Messi fired Barça in front four minutes into the second half after flicking home his 13th league goal of the season following good work from full-back Daniel Alves on the right.
Samuel Eto'o doubled the advantage four minutes later when he beat the offside trap to latch onto Iniesta's pass and slot home.
José Barkero gave Numancia hope by reducing the deficit with an excellent free kick on 61 minutes, but Thierry Henry restored his side's two-goal cushion 10 minutes later.
Messi grabbed his second of the night in the 76th minute and could have completed a hat-trick but saw another shot come back off the crossbar.
César Palacios was dismissed for the visitors with nine minutes left on the clock for a second bookable offence.
In Saturday's other match, Villarreal recent woes continued as they drew 1-1 with Osasuna at El Madrigal.
The Yellow Submarines have now won only one of their last seven fixtures and have slipped to fifth in the table.
The hosts took the lead after 28 minutes when Santi Cazorla lifted a neat little chip into Giuseppe Rossi near the penalty spot before the Italian evaded his marker to fire a shot underneath the advancing Roberto into the far corner.
Osasuna then went close with Jaroslav Plašil firing a shot that took a wicked deflection, while at the other end Marcos Senna might have done better when hitting the side netting after a disappointing free-kick from Rossi dropped kindly for him.
Senna then tried his luck with a vicious drive from distance as Villarreal went in search of the killer second goal but they couldn't find a way through and paid the price when substitute Dady drew the visitors level on 65 minutes.
Plašil fired in a cross from the left and Pascal Cygan fluffed a routine clearance in his own six-yard box, presenting the chance for the Cape Verde striker to slot home from three yards.
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Technorati tags:World soccer Soccer news Football news La Liga Barcelona Villarreal
The visitors were denied an early lead when Javier Del Pino's header was ruled out, presumably for a push on Andrés Iniesta as he leapt.
Lionel Messi fired Barça in front four minutes into the second half after flicking home his 13th league goal of the season following good work from full-back Daniel Alves on the right.
Samuel Eto'o doubled the advantage four minutes later when he beat the offside trap to latch onto Iniesta's pass and slot home.
José Barkero gave Numancia hope by reducing the deficit with an excellent free kick on 61 minutes, but Thierry Henry restored his side's two-goal cushion 10 minutes later.
Messi grabbed his second of the night in the 76th minute and could have completed a hat-trick but saw another shot come back off the crossbar.
César Palacios was dismissed for the visitors with nine minutes left on the clock for a second bookable offence.
 |
| Villarreal winger Santi Cazorla fights for the ball with Osasuna's Monreal Photo: AFP/Diego Tuson |
| 1 - 1 |
| ||||||
| Giuseppe Rossi 28 | Dady 65 |
In Saturday's other match, Villarreal recent woes continued as they drew 1-1 with Osasuna at El Madrigal.
The Yellow Submarines have now won only one of their last seven fixtures and have slipped to fifth in the table.
The hosts took the lead after 28 minutes when Santi Cazorla lifted a neat little chip into Giuseppe Rossi near the penalty spot before the Italian evaded his marker to fire a shot underneath the advancing Roberto into the far corner.
Osasuna then went close with Jaroslav Plašil firing a shot that took a wicked deflection, while at the other end Marcos Senna might have done better when hitting the side netting after a disappointing free-kick from Rossi dropped kindly for him.
Senna then tried his luck with a vicious drive from distance as Villarreal went in search of the killer second goal but they couldn't find a way through and paid the price when substitute Dady drew the visitors level on 65 minutes.
Plašil fired in a cross from the left and Pascal Cygan fluffed a routine clearance in his own six-yard box, presenting the chance for the Cape Verde striker to slot home from three yards.
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Related links:
Also see:
- La Liga round-up: Five star Barça thrash Depor
- La Liga round-up: Valencia and Villarreal draw in six-goal thriller
- Rivaldo: Ronaldo or Messi? I go with Messi
- Raúl admits Barça might out of sight
- Ferguson considers to buy back Rossi
Technorati tags:World soccer Soccer news Football news La Liga Barcelona Villarreal
