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Tempers flare as arch-rivals end intense game in tie
Madrid, Apr 20: Real Madrid striker Ronaldo and Barcelona midfielder Luis Enrique both scored goals against their former teams as the two arch-rivals fought out an intense 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu on Saturday (April 19).
Madrid, Apr 20: Real Madrid striker Ronaldo and Barcelona midfielder Luis Enrique both scored goals against their former teams as the two arch-rivals fought out an intense 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu on Saturday (April 19).
The result means Real move four points clear at the top of the table, but Deportivo Coruna and Real Sociedad will be able to narrow the gap to just a point if they win their respective home games on Sunday.
Barcelona move up to 11th place, but are still just seven points above the relegation zone. Earlier, Valencia's hopes of securing a place in next season's Champions League were thrown into jeopardy by a 1-0 defeat at modest Valladolid.
Valencia stay fourth in the table just two points ahead of Celta Vigo as the two sides fight it out for the final berth in Europe's top club competition.
The defending champions have now won just one of their last seven matches and can be overhauled by Celta in the standings if the Galicians win their match at relegation-threatened Osasuna on Sunday.
The 24-point gulf between Real and Barcelona was certainly not evident as the Catalans dominated for long periods and had the better of the scoring chances.
Real had the first opportunity after Raul twisted free of Frank de Boer and slipped the ball to Ronaldo, but the former Barca player sent his shot wide of the post on five minutes.
Barcelona responded strongly and striker Patrick Kluivert tested Iker Casillas with a sharp shot soon after but the Real keeper managed to get enough of a touch to the Dutchman's goal-bound shot to sent it spinning wide of the far post.
But just when the Catalans looked to be getting on top, Ronaldo struck with a trademark finish on 16 minutes. French midfielder Claude Makelele snapped up a loose ball and hooked a hopeful pass forward towards the area where it fell into the path of the Brazilian who guided the ball inside the near post past Barca goalkeeper Roberto Bonano.
There was a brief respite following the Real goal, but Barcelona managed to retain control of the midfield and Marc Overmars was a constant threat on the left wing.
The former Arsenal player launched the move that led to the equaliser when he floated in a fine cross to the heart of the Real area where Kluivert met it with a powerful header.
Casillas blocked on the line but the ball squirted out of his hands and former Real player Luis Enrique was on hand to poke into the open net on 32 minutes.
Tempers flared soon afterwards when players from both sides got involved in a scuffle as Zinedine Zidane fouled defender Carles Puyol on the halfway line.
Barca started well after the break as they bossed the midfield and Kluivert went close early on when he volleyed into the arms of Casillas after a well-worked passing move.
Luis Enrique had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down midway through the half when he appeared to have been brought down by Real skipper Fernando Hierro.
But Barca were unable to convert their possession into another goal and it was Real who threatened to snatch a victory at the end.
Former Barcelona player Luis Figo fired straight at Bonano 10 minutes from time and Ronaldo hit the bar. Real lost defender Michel Salgado when he was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Overmars two minutes from time, but Real were denied a late winner when Bonano produced a fine reflex save to block a vicious drive from Zidane.
Results of matches played in the Spanish first division on Saturday: Real Madrid 1 Barcelona 1 Valladolid 1 Valencia 0 Villarreal 1 Real Mallorca 1
Playing Sunday (kickoffs 1600 GMT unless stated): Alaves v Malaga (1500 GMT) Deportivo Coruna v Sevilla Espanyol v Athletic Bilbao Osasuna v Celta Vigo Racing Santander v Recreativo Huelva Real Betis v Atletico Madrid (1700) Real Sociedad v Rayo Vallecano (1830) P W D L F A Pts 1. Real Madrid 30 17 10 3 67 32 61 2. Deportivo Coruna 29 17 6 6 49 32 57 3. Real Sociedad 29 16 9 4 52 38 57 4. Valencia 30 14 8 8 43 24 50 5. Celta Vigo 29 14 6 9 34 24 48 6. Sevilla 29 11 9 9 27 22 42 7. Real Betis 29 11 8 10 39 39 41 8. Atletico Madrid 29 10 10 9 41 37 40 9. Malaga 29 9 11 9 36 33 38 10. Real Mallorca 30 10 8 12 34 46 38 11. Barcelona 30 9 10 11 47 41 37 12. Athletic Bilbao 29 10 7 12 41 47 37 13. Villarreal 30 9 9 12 31 37 36 14. Valladolid 30 10 5 15 28 33 35 15. Racing Santander 29 10 3 16 37 46 33 16. Espanyol 29 8 8 13 32 39 32 17. Osasuna 29 7 9 13 27 36 30 18. Alaves 29 7 9 13 31 51 30 19. Recreativo Huelva 29 7 9 13 28 49 30 20. Rayo Vallecano 29 7 6 16 26 44 27 Note: teams on same points are ranked according to head-to-head results and then goal difference.
Bureau Report
The 24-point gulf between Real and Barcelona was certainly not evident as the Catalans dominated for long periods and had the better of the scoring chances.
Real had the first opportunity after Raul twisted free of Frank de Boer and slipped the ball to Ronaldo, but the former Barca player sent his shot wide of the post on five minutes.
Barcelona responded strongly and striker Patrick Kluivert tested Iker Casillas with a sharp shot soon after but the Real keeper managed to get enough of a touch to the Dutchman's goal-bound shot to sent it spinning wide of the far post.
But just when the Catalans looked to be getting on top, Ronaldo struck with a trademark finish on 16 minutes. French midfielder Claude Makelele snapped up a loose ball and hooked a hopeful pass forward towards the area where it fell into the path of the Brazilian who guided the ball inside the near post past Barca goalkeeper Roberto Bonano.
There was a brief respite following the Real goal, but Barcelona managed to retain control of the midfield and Marc Overmars was a constant threat on the left wing.
The former Arsenal player launched the move that led to the equaliser when he floated in a fine cross to the heart of the Real area where Kluivert met it with a powerful header.
Casillas blocked on the line but the ball squirted out of his hands and former Real player Luis Enrique was on hand to poke into the open net on 32 minutes.
Tempers flared soon afterwards when players from both sides got involved in a scuffle as Zinedine Zidane fouled defender Carles Puyol on the halfway line.
Barca started well after the break as they bossed the midfield and Kluivert went close early on when he volleyed into the arms of Casillas after a well-worked passing move.
Luis Enrique had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down midway through the half when he appeared to have been brought down by Real skipper Fernando Hierro.
But Barca were unable to convert their possession into another goal and it was Real who threatened to snatch a victory at the end.
Former Barcelona player Luis Figo fired straight at Bonano 10 minutes from time and Ronaldo hit the bar. Real lost defender Michel Salgado when he was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Overmars two minutes from time, but Real were denied a late winner when Bonano produced a fine reflex save to block a vicious drive from Zidane.
Results of matches played in the Spanish first division on Saturday: Real Madrid 1 Barcelona 1 Valladolid 1 Valencia 0 Villarreal 1 Real Mallorca 1
Playing Sunday (kickoffs 1600 GMT unless stated): Alaves v Malaga (1500 GMT) Deportivo Coruna v Sevilla Espanyol v Athletic Bilbao Osasuna v Celta Vigo Racing Santander v Recreativo Huelva Real Betis v Atletico Madrid (1700) Real Sociedad v Rayo Vallecano (1830) P W D L F A Pts 1. Real Madrid 30 17 10 3 67 32 61 2. Deportivo Coruna 29 17 6 6 49 32 57 3. Real Sociedad 29 16 9 4 52 38 57 4. Valencia 30 14 8 8 43 24 50 5. Celta Vigo 29 14 6 9 34 24 48 6. Sevilla 29 11 9 9 27 22 42 7. Real Betis 29 11 8 10 39 39 41 8. Atletico Madrid 29 10 10 9 41 37 40 9. Malaga 29 9 11 9 36 33 38 10. Real Mallorca 30 10 8 12 34 46 38 11. Barcelona 30 9 10 11 47 41 37 12. Athletic Bilbao 29 10 7 12 41 47 37 13. Villarreal 30 9 9 12 31 37 36 14. Valladolid 30 10 5 15 28 33 35 15. Racing Santander 29 10 3 16 37 46 33 16. Espanyol 29 8 8 13 32 39 32 17. Osasuna 29 7 9 13 27 36 30 18. Alaves 29 7 9 13 31 51 30 19. Recreativo Huelva 29 7 9 13 28 49 30 20. Rayo Vallecano 29 7 6 16 26 44 27 Note: teams on same points are ranked according to head-to-head results and then goal difference.
Bureau Report