Top level SPANISH FOOTBALL was back with Round 30 of LA LIGA returning with three great games with results that may have given FC Barcelona the Spanish League title after rival Real Madrid lost at home. Here is a summary of events, all the results & the scores.
REAL MADRID lost 0 - 1 to REAL SPORTING DE GIJON thus breaking Real Madrid Coach Mourinho´s "150 straight home games without loss" record ( or 9 years without loss at home) & allowing FC Barcelona to escape & further opening their classification gap to 8 points. Although mathematically the Spanish League has yet to be decided the advantage to Barça is very significant & puts them firmely in the "box seat" to take this years Spanish League title.
Real Madrid was missing key players like Xabi, Ronaldo & Benzema & looked "relaxed" most of the match. Although they controlled the whole game they missed some very clear chances & were not given an obvious penalty in the first half. However the last point is no excuse, as Sporting defended well & worked hard. So much so, that Coach Mourinho wentl for the victory putting more "fire-power" up front with Higuain, Canales & Pepe ( shifting Ramos as an attacking defender) to attempt to score. However, with spaces, Gijon made one of their very few attacking counter-attacks & scored via DE LAS CUEVAS in the 78th min.
From here it was all rush & nerves, as Real tried everything, but failed again with some very clear chances to equalize. Final result, a very severe blow for Madrid as they now look onwards to Tottenham next Tuesday in the 1ºst leg Q/Final Champions League match.
VALENCIA CF travelled to Madrid to play GETAFE & won 2 - 4 with ex-Getafe player & now Valencia forward ROBERTO SOLDADO scoring all four goals for his team ( 46th, 63rd,70th & 77th min). Getafe got ahead early via MANU in the 12th min before the "Soldado Show", & got another towards the end via SARDINERO in the 87th min.
A needed win for Valencia whos Coach Emery was being questioned during the week & more trouble for Getafe who are not looking good at all.
VILLAREAL hosted an undernamed FC BARCELONA which had Messi starting on the bench, Xavi out with sanction, Abidal with his illness & Pedro still recovering from his injury. It made little difference in the end as Villareal lost 0 - 1 to Barcelona which knew beforehand that a win tonight would virtually give them the Spanish League title as Real Madrid lost earlier their game & the 8 points difference would be a classification table gap to wide to shut.
The first half was very balanced with both sides having chances & perhaps Villareal looking the more dangerous. But things changed in the second half & especially when LIONEL MESSI came on in the 52nd min that allow Barça to dominante proceedings.
The Barça goal finally arrived in the 74th min via PIQUE putting Barcelona ahead & later giving them 3 points to - as already mentioned - take the Spanish League title a little bit more closer towards Barcelona. Villareal reacted somewhat & Barça goalkeeper Valdes had to do a "miracle" save, but Barça kept things relatively under control right up until the end.
Lots of joy at "Camp Barça" as they see via their rear-view mirror Real Madrid drift back onto the horizon.
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| Real Sporting de Gijon gave the surprise in Round 30 of the Spanish League |
REAL MADRID lost 0 - 1 to REAL SPORTING DE GIJON thus breaking Real Madrid Coach Mourinho´s "150 straight home games without loss" record ( or 9 years without loss at home) & allowing FC Barcelona to escape & further opening their classification gap to 8 points. Although mathematically the Spanish League has yet to be decided the advantage to Barça is very significant & puts them firmely in the "box seat" to take this years Spanish League title.
Real Madrid was missing key players like Xabi, Ronaldo & Benzema & looked "relaxed" most of the match. Although they controlled the whole game they missed some very clear chances & were not given an obvious penalty in the first half. However the last point is no excuse, as Sporting defended well & worked hard. So much so, that Coach Mourinho wentl for the victory putting more "fire-power" up front with Higuain, Canales & Pepe ( shifting Ramos as an attacking defender) to attempt to score. However, with spaces, Gijon made one of their very few attacking counter-attacks & scored via DE LAS CUEVAS in the 78th min.
From here it was all rush & nerves, as Real tried everything, but failed again with some very clear chances to equalize. Final result, a very severe blow for Madrid as they now look onwards to Tottenham next Tuesday in the 1ºst leg Q/Final Champions League match.
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| Roberto Soldado had a big night with Valencia CF |
VALENCIA CF travelled to Madrid to play GETAFE & won 2 - 4 with ex-Getafe player & now Valencia forward ROBERTO SOLDADO scoring all four goals for his team ( 46th, 63rd,70th & 77th min). Getafe got ahead early via MANU in the 12th min before the "Soldado Show", & got another towards the end via SARDINERO in the 87th min.
A needed win for Valencia whos Coach Emery was being questioned during the week & more trouble for Getafe who are not looking good at all.
VILLAREAL hosted an undernamed FC BARCELONA which had Messi starting on the bench, Xavi out with sanction, Abidal with his illness & Pedro still recovering from his injury. It made little difference in the end as Villareal lost 0 - 1 to Barcelona which knew beforehand that a win tonight would virtually give them the Spanish League title as Real Madrid lost earlier their game & the 8 points difference would be a classification table gap to wide to shut.
The first half was very balanced with both sides having chances & perhaps Villareal looking the more dangerous. But things changed in the second half & especially when LIONEL MESSI came on in the 52nd min that allow Barça to dominante proceedings.
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| Pique scores for Barça |
The Barça goal finally arrived in the 74th min via PIQUE putting Barcelona ahead & later giving them 3 points to - as already mentioned - take the Spanish League title a little bit more closer towards Barcelona. Villareal reacted somewhat & Barça goalkeeper Valdes had to do a "miracle" save, but Barça kept things relatively under control right up until the end.
Lots of joy at "Camp Barça" as they see via their rear-view mirror Real Madrid drift back onto the horizon.
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