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Barca go seven clear at top with 17th win
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-16 10:23
MADRID, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Barcelona marched on to their 17th consecutive
victory in all competitions on Sunday, coming from behind to beat Athletic
Bilbao 2-1 at home in the Primera Liga.
Ronaldinho scored from the
penalty spot in the 36th minute and Argentine forward Leo Messi added the second
in the 51st minute after Bilbao, who made like difficult for the champions, had
taken an early lead through Fernando Llorente.
Barca had Portugal midfielder Deco sent off in the final minute.
The win confirms Barcelona as the clear leaders in Spain at the halfway point
of the season, as they hold the top spot with 46 points, seven ahead of
second-placed Osasuna.
The Navarrans fell 2-0 away at third-placed Valencia on Saturday, who look
like the side currently most likely to mount a challenge despite being 10 points
adrift.
Real Madrid moved up to fourth on 33 points after beating Sevilla 4-2 in a
pulsating match at the Bernabeu.
ZIDANE HAT-TRICK
Zinedine Zidane marked a return to form by setting up the first goal for Guti
after seven minutes and then going on to score his first hat-trick for Real.
Luis Fabiano levelled the scores at 1-1 in the 51st minute with a fierce
drive, but Real soon bounced back.
Julio Baptista won a penalty in the 57th minute which Zidane dispatched, and
three minutes later he scored the pick of the goals when Guti's backheel left
him in space to fire high into the net.
Sevilla refused to lie down and Aitor Ocio scored with five minutes to go to
set alarm bells ringing with scores at 3-2, but a swift break in time added on
left Zidane to secure the win. Bottom club Alaves surprised fifth-placed
Deportivo Coruna with a 2-0 away win to give new coach Juan Carlos Oliva a win
in his first game in charge.
Sixth-placed Villarreal missed a penalty and had a player sent off on their
way to a 1-0 defeat at nine-man Racing Santander.
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