Tuesday, May 11, 2010

La Liga round-up

La Liga round-up

Barcelona opened up a four-point advantage at the top of the table as Valencia secured UEFA Champions League football, Villarreal were beaten and Getafe were held at home.

Two goals from star man Lionel Messi kept Barcelona on course for the Primera Liga title as they saw off lowly Tenerife 4-1 at Camp Nou.

The visitors claimed a shock equaliser in the 39th minute when Roman Martinez capitalised on Carles Puyol's error to cancel out Messi's 17th minute opener.

But second-half efforts from Bojan and Pedro calmed any nerves among Pep Guardiola's side with Messi adding gloss to the scoreline with almost the final kick.

Title rivals Real Madrid are now four points adrift having played a game less and have the immediate opportunity to reduce the deficit when they travel to Real Mallorca on Wednesday night.

Valencia strengthened their grip on third place as they were forced to come from behind to push bottom club Xerez closer to the drop.

Argentine midfielder Emiliano Armenteros gave the visitors a shock lead in the 37th minute before Juan Mata levelled on the stroke of half-time.

Feisty

Mata added a second before the hour mark and then set up David Silva for Valencia's third, while Juan Redondo saw red for two bookings in swift succession in the closing moments.

Los Che are now assured of a UEFA Champions League place for next term while Xerez look certain to slip out of the top division.

Villarreal's faint hopes of sneaking into the Champions League reckoning were extinguished after a feisty and thrilling 4-2 defeat away to Almeria, who now look safe from the drop.

Albert Crusat fired Almeria in front before Mateo Mussachio was dismissed for Villarreal in just the 16th minute, with Kalu Uche and Modeste M'Bami putting the home side firmly in control before the break.

The visitors threatened a stirring comeback in the second period courtesy of goals from Ivan Marcano and Ariel Ibagaza either side of Chico's red card, but Pablo Piatti had the final say in added time.

Getafe's already improbable bid to finish in the top four is also over following their 1-1 draw at home to Sporting Gijon.

Miguel De Las Cuevas opened the scoring for the visitors in the 18th minute before Roberto Soldado Rillo restored parity early in the second period.

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