Nine-man Barcelona beat Getafe
Reuters - Saturday 06 February 2010, 23:30
MADRID - Leaders Barcelona survived red
cards for Gerard Pique and Rafael Marquez to complete a 2-1
victory over Getafe in La Liga on Saturday while Real Madrid
kept pace with a 3-0 win at home to Espanyol.
Pique was sent off in the 25th minute for a wild challenge
on Rafa Lopez.
Marquez walked at the end after bundling over
Kepa for a last-minute penalty scored by Roberto Soldado but the
game was effectively over by then.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the seventh minute and
Xavi netted in the 67th as Barca continued to create the clearer
chances despite their numerical disadvantage.
"You only manage this with commitment, a great deal of
belief and by running a lot. The players have been marvellous,"
Barca coach Pep Guardiola told reporters.
"We played a very good game and it was one of the best
performances we've put in."
The unbeaten champions moved on to 55 points from 21 games,
and remained five ahead of second-placed Real, who comfortably
swept aside Espanyol.
Sergio Ramos headed in from a freekick early on and Kaka
doubled the lead after Carlos Kameni could only parry a Raul
header in the 30th minute. Gonzalo Higuain returned from injury
to grab a third at the end.
MESSI CURLER
Getafe attempted to take the game to Barca by starting with
two strikers but it was the home side who struck first when
Messi curled in a shot from the edge of the area for his 16th
goal of the campaign.
Barca were just starting to take control when Pique was
dismissed, and Guardiola held off from making a defensive
substitution until early in the second half.
Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Seydou Keita all went close
before the Argentine World Player of the Year broke away on a
counter-attack and squared for Xavi to give them a two-goal
cushion.
Getafe, who have a King's Cup semi-final second leg against
Sevilla next week, had plenty of possession but created little
until they were gifted a penalty in added time.
Earlier, Valencia spoiled Onesimo Sanchez's debut as Real
Valladolid coach, winning 2-0 to stay third with 42 points.
Struggling Valladolid, who are 17th, sacked Jose Luis
Mendilibar on Monday but the change failed to spark an immediate
revival in their fortunes at the Mestalla.
Ever Banega was at the centre of most of Valencia's best
moves and cracked in a fierce drive for the opener after eight
minutes.
The Argentine midfielder then crossed for David Villa to
head his 15th league goal of the campaign in the 29th. The hosts
squandered several more chances after the break.