Spanish La Liga: Real Madrid Ahead Of Barcelona

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 at 12:51 pm , filed under Spanish Premiera Division by Steve Jones

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Real Madrid finished the first half of its Spanish la liga league schedule on Sunday with a 4-1 comeback thrashing victory of Athletic Bilbao, leaving it five points ahead of second-placed FC Barcelona.

Earlier on Sunday evening, Barca had enjoyed a 4-1 romp of its own, at Malaga, with FIFA World Player Lionel Messi putting away a superb hat-trick. At the halfway stage of the season, Real has 49 points from 19 games and Barca has 44.

Real Madrid has scored 67 goals, which is 8 more than Barca and is on course to break its own record of 107 goals in the 1989/90 season. Real went in to the Bilbao match amid speculation of a dressing-room revolt against coach Jose Mourinho, as a result of his ultra-defensive tactics in Wednesday’s 2-1 cup beat at home to Barca.

Bilbao made a gallant start and Spain striker Fernando Llorente shot it ahead in the 13th minute on a cross from Javi Martinez. But left-back Marcelo quickly tied the match for Real after a clever combination with Karim Benzema.

The second half was controversial and acrimonious, with Real being awarded two penalties both of them converted by Bilbao and Cristiano Ronaldo having midfielder Oscar de Marcos sent off. The first penalty came directly after the interval, for a pull by Ander Iturraspe on Kaka, who was making an unusual start for Real.

In the 66th min., De Marcos was sent off for pulling down Mesut Oezil, and Ronaldo converted again. The Portuguese striker is again top of the scorers’ chart with 23 goals to Barca idol Messi’s 22.

Supersub Jose Callejon made it 4-1 for Real five minutes from time. Earlier on Sunday, Barca had enjoyed a pleasant win in Malaga. Barca coach Pep Guardiola decided to rest Carles Puyol, Xavi and Cesc Fabregas ahead of Wednesday’s cup showdown against Real.

The world champions went ahead in the 33rd minute, when a precise centre from Adriano was powerfully headed in by Messi. Alexis Sanchez made it 2-0 three minutes into the second half by pushing home the rebound after Malaga keeper Willy Caballero had twice kept out shots from Thiago.

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Tags: Alexis Sanchez, FC Barcelona, Karim Benzema, messi, Real Madrid, Real Madrid Ahead Of Barcelona, Real Madrid vs Barcelona, Ronaldo, Spanish La Liga