The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Real rejoin Barca and Atletico at the top Posted: 16 Feb 2014 02:40 PM PST Barcelona and Atletico recorded easy home wins on Saturday, the champions thrashing Rayo Vallecano 6-0 and Atletico thumping Real Valladolid 3-0 to leave the title race a tight three-way fight with 14 matches left. Barca, chasing a fifth crown in six years, lead on goal difference from Real and Atletico. But the three teams, who have all played 24 games, will be separated by their head-to-head records if they are still tied at the end of the campaign. Real have not lost since a 2-1 La Liga defeat at Barca at the end of October. They were beaten 1-0 at home by Atletico in the league a month earlier while Barca and Atletico drew 0-0 in Madrid in January. "We have to carry on like this because the important part of the season is starting now," said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti referring to the Champions League last-16 first leg at Schalke 04 in 10 days. "We are more solid and have more confidence," the Italian told a news conference. "We are in good physical and mental shape." Athletic Bilbao are fourth on 44 points after losing 2-1 at home to Espanyol, the Basque club's first league defeat at their new San Mames stadium. Sevilla failed to kill off Valencia despite playing most of the second half at their Sanchez Pizjuan venue with an extra man after the dismissal of centre back Ricardo Costa. A poor-quality match littered with yellow cards, and in which home midfielder Ivan Rakitic had a penalty saved by Diego Alves, ended 0-0 to leave the two teams tied on 32 points with Sevilla in seventh position and Valencia eighth. Denis Cheryshev of Sevilla was also sent off in stoppage time. Espanyol also have 32 points in ninth, five behind sixth-placed Real Sociedad who visit struggling Malaga today. Real Madrid were missing La Liga top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo for the trip to the city suburbs and it was Jese, the player brought in for the suspended Portugal forward, who opened the scoring at Getafe's Coliseum stadium in the fifth minute. France forward Benzema finished off a swift break with some neat control and a clinical shot in the 27th and Croatia midfielder Modric fired the third from just outside the penalty area in the 66th. "I am happy with the goals I am giving to the team," said Jese, a product of Real's academy who has been in good form in recent weeks. "It is important the coach has faith in me and I am grateful," added the forward who turns 21 on the day of the first leg at Schalke. Bottom club Real Betis look destined for the drop after they lost 1-0 in Sunday's midday kickoff at Andalusian rivals Granada. Seville-based Betis have won just three league games this season and have 14 points, six adrift of 19th-placed Rayo. Getafe are 15th on 25 points, two fewer than Granada in 12th. – Reuters, February 17, 2014. |
| Liverpool fury as Arsenal gain sweet revenge Posted: 16 Feb 2014 02:33 PM PST Visiting manager Brendan Rodgers, however, was furious his side were denied a "blatant penalty" by 2010 World Cup final referee Howard Webb in the second half. Arsenal will be at home again in the quarter-finals, having been drawn against Liverpool's local rivals Everton. Arsene Wenger's team were in control when they led 2-0 shortly after halftime, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scoring the first goal after 16 minutes and then created the second for Lukas Podolski. Podolski then conceded a penalty for a trip on Luis Suarez and it was converted by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard in the 60th minute. Liverpool felt they should have had another penalty for an Oxlade-Chamberlain challenge on Uruguayan Suarez soon after but Webb turned down their strong appeals. "I thought it was a blatant penalty," Rodgers told BT Sport television. "Luis got a touch on the ball and young Alex has just taken him out." Wenger was less certain that it was a spot kick. "Maybe, maybe not," said the Frenchman before adding: "I'm very proud of the way we responded to the huge defeat last week". Earlier, Liverpool started the tie well but missed two early chances that fell to England striker Daniel Sturridge who had scored in his previous eight games. Arsenal went ahead when a shot by French Under-21 international Yaya Sanogo, making his first start, fell kindly for Oxlade-Chamberlain to pounce. Podolski made it 2-0 before Gerrard's penalty launched a Liverpool fightback. Arsenal held on for victory, though, to gain a huge boost ahead of Wednesday's Champions League last-16 first leg at home to holders Bayern Munich. Liverpool will now focus solely on the Premier League. Rodgers's men are in fourth place, four points behind leaders Chelsea. – Reuters, February 17, 2014. |
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