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 held, and 10 man Real Madrid win to narrow gap to five points

Posted on 2011-02-14 by Gooner

Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Sporting Gijon to end a record 16-match winning run in the Spanish Primera Division.

Barcelona's Champions League quarter-final first-leg tie at Arsenal in London on Wednesday night affected the starting lineup, with Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola opting to rest several of his regular starters.

Pedro, Sergio Busquets and Eric Abidal were all left on the bench, with so Ibrahim Affelay, Javier Mascherano and Maxwell all moved into the starting line-up.

Relegation-threatened Sporting took the lead through a fine David Barral effort after 16 minutes, and looked as if they may hold on for a shock victory until David Villa's sublime chip against his former club rescued a point for the Catalans.

The result means Barca failed to win away in the league for the first time this season.

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Real Madrid beat Espanyol 1-0 to within five points of fierce rivals Barcelona at the top of the Primera Division.

Goal keeper Iker Casillas was shown a straight red card for a cynical foul on Jose Callejon just outside the box after less than 90 seconds, but Real still managed to boss the game even with 10 players.

Madrid looked the more dangerous in the first half and Marcelo gave the visitors the lead midway through the first half when he drilled home from a tight angle.

Emmanuel Adebayor missed three good chances to extend Madrid's lead, but Jose Mourinho's side kept Espanyol at bay in the second half to record a vital victory.

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Valencia, 2-1 winners at Atletico Madrid, and Villarreal who lost 0-1 at Deportivo La Coruna fill out 3rd and 4th spot, but neither side are going to get within 10 points of the two two teams.

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Sourced From : Gooners Guide to Spanish La Liga Betting

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