La Liga round-up: Barcelona extend lead as Valencia surge past Atlético | inside World Soccer

La Liga round-up: Barcelona extend lead as Valencia surge past Atlético

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Barcelona
Barcelona logo
3 - 1
Real Mallorca logo
Mallorca
Thierry Henry 31
Aritz Aduriz 15
Andrés Iniesta 75

Yaya Touré 90



Barcelona extended their unbeaten streak to 16 matches in La Liga after battling back from a goal down to claim a 3-1 win over Real Mallorca.

The visitors scored first after 15 minutes when Aritz Aduriz skipped past Yaya Touré and Víctor Sánchez before lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Víctor Valdés.

But after a period of sustained Barcelona pressure, Thierry Henry equalised in the 31st minute when he controlled a high ball with his right foot and drilled a left-footed effort in off the far post.

Substitute Andrés Iniesta gave Barça the lead on 75 minutes after Xavi's deflected long-range shot fell kindly to Eiður Guðjohnsen and the Iceland international unselfishly played a square-ball for Iniesta to tap in from close range.

Mallorca defender Josemi was sent off for a second bookable offense in the 90th minute before Touré scored a fine third in the second minute of injury time after skillfully dribbling past Mallorca's defense.


Valencia midfielder David Silva celebrates after scoring against Atletico Madrid
Valencia midfielder David Silva celebrates after scoring against Atlético Madrid
Photo: REUTERS/Heino Kalis


Valencia
Valencia logo
3 - 1
Atletico Madrid logo
Atlético Madrid
David Villa(pen) 34
Diego Forlán(pen) 45
David Silva 39

David Silva 69



Valencia leapfrogged their opponents Atlético Madrid into second in La Liga after a 3-1 win at Mestalla.

The hosts went ahead on 34 minutes when David Villa converted a penalty in the 35th minute after Raúl García was adjudged to have pushed Rubén Baraja in the penalty area.

Midfielder David Silva gave the hosts a two-goal cushion five minutes later by burying an accurate cross from right-back Miguel.

Atlético got back into the match when Diego Forlán converted from the penalty spot after Baraja fouled Sergio Agüero in first-half injury time.

However, any hopes Atlético harboured of securing a point were extinguished on 69 minutes when Silva hit a powerful left-footed shot into the top right corner of the net following a fine cross from Joaquín.

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