GOONERSGUIDE SPANISH LA LIGA NEWS SECTION

This is our Spanish La Liga news section where we provide any news items that might have a significant effect on the matches being played - or sports betting in general.

Spanish La Liga News :: Barcelona have to wait to celebrate Primera title after 3-3 draw

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Posted on 2009-05-10 by Gooner

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Real Madrid's 3-0 defeat at Valencia on Saturday had opened the door for Barcelona to clinch their 19th Spanish league title with three games to go.

Juan Mata and David Villa put Valencia in the ascendancy with goals in a five-minute spell in the first half and Ruben Baraja sealed matters with a third midway through the second period.

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But while Barcelona came within two minutes of clinching the Primera Division title, a late goal for Villarreal was able to earn a 3-3 draw to spoil the party at the Nou Camp.

Joseba Llorente bundled his way through before firing a shot high past Victor Valdes' to stun the home crowd.

Llorente had earlier cancelled out Seydou Keita's opener only for Samuel Eto'o to restore the hosts' lead with Dani Alves then making it 3-1.

But the match hinged on a penalty decision after 76 minutes with referee Fernando Teixeira Vitienes harshly adjudging Eric Abidal to have fouled Nihat Kahveci inside the area.

Abidal saw red for the second time in two games - he was also sent off in Barca's Champions League draw at Chelsea in midweek - and the Yellow Submarine capitalised to take the title race into another week.

Barca now lead Madrid by eight points with three rounds of the season still to go.

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Third-placed Sevilla put themselves on the brink of Champions League qualification with a comfortable win 3-1 over Real Mallorca at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

The islanders took the lead in the 16th minute but from then on it was all Sevilla.

Freddie Kanoute levelled after 33 minutes with a coolly-taken penalty and Luis Fabiano finally put the hosts ahead on the hour mark.

Jesus Navas (76) made the points safe with a left-foot drive.

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Athletic Bilbao's team of reserves secured survival for the Basque side with a deserved 1-0 win at home over Real Betis.

The result gave Athletic a timely boost ahead of Wednesday night's Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.

Ion Velez's strike on the half-hour mark proved enough to give Joaquin Caparros' side the three points against an out-of-sorts Betis outfit.

 

Sourced From : SportingLife.com

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