La Liga - Round-up: Getafe deny Barca

Eurosport - Sun, 23 Nov 21:34:00 2008

Barcelona's run of nine consecutive league victories came to end with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Getafe at Camp Nou.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 La Liga Barcelona-Getafe Bojan - 0

Manu gave the visitors a deserved lead with a fine curling shot midway through the first half before Seydou Keita headed home to appease the frustrated home crowd on 71 minutes.

But for once Barcelona could not find a late goal to claim victory and were forced to drop their first points since a 1-1 draw with Racing Santander in early September.

The result left Pep Guardiola's team three points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, while Getafe remain in the relative safety of 14th.

Despite Barca's all-conquering form of late, it was Getafe who started the more confident side, dominating possession in the early exchanges.

The visitors went ahead on 19 minutes when Manu collected a deflection off Gerard Pique and curled home a fine shot from 25 yards past Victor Valdes.

Sylvinho and Samuel Eto'o went close with long-range efforts in the run-up to half-time, but ultimately Barca went into the break having failed to create a clear-cut opening.

The second half brought predictable changes from Guardiola, who introduced Thierry Henry and Pedro to invigorate his lacklustre team

Getafe could have doubled lead just after the hour mark, however, when Angel burst into the box before shooting just past the post with only Valdes to beat.

But Barca gradually became dominant in midfield, with Xavi and Henry seeing plenty of the ball, and eventually the home side pulled level.

Dani Alves was the creator, collecting possession on the right flank and curling over an inviting cross to the unmarked Keita six yards out. The striker headed home with ease to claim his second goal in as many games.

The home side could have won the match on 80 minutes, but Roberto Abbondanzieri produced a spectacular stop to deny Pique's powerful header.

Numancia 1-1 Atletico Madrid

Atletico's Simao Sabrosa laid on the opener for Uruguay's Diego Forlan with a great pass after 35 minutes but Javier Aguirre's team were pegged back in the second half.

The home side piled on the pressure and won a penalty in the 94th minute which Jose Barkero calmly put away.

Osasuna 3-1 Almeria

Striker Alvaro Negredo gave Almeria a sixth-minute lead from the penalty spot but the visitors were thrown onto the back foot two minutes later when Brazilian defender Guilherme was sent off for a reckless challenge.

Uruguayan striker Walter Pandiani equalised with a looping header in the 13th minute, and Hernan Pellerano headed into his own net in the 71st before Hungarian Krisztian Vadocz wrapped up Osasuna's first league win this season at the end.

Racing Santander 3-0 Espanyol

Espanyol keeper Carlos Kameni failed to collect a free-kick after 11 minutes allowing Ivan Marcano to slot home in a crowded area, and Oscar Serrano doubled Racing's lead when Espanyol's defence only half-cleared a Pedro Munitis cross.

A quickly taken free kick led to Jonathan Pereira rounding Kameni for the third goal after the break.

Real Mallorca 2-2 Malaga

Mallorca's Ivan Ramis diverted a low cross into his own net after 13 minutes but Josemi levelled with a piledriver from outside the area soon after.

Malaga's French striker Nabil Baha broke clear to restore the visitors' lead, nutmegging the keeper, but sloppy defending allowed Mallorca's Pierre Webo to poach the equaliser in the 67th minute.

Sporting Gijon 1-2 Real Betis

Betis keeper Casto Espinosa spilled David Barral's shot for Diego Castro to score after 25 minutes but the visitors stormed back after the break.

Argentine defender Luciano Monzon cracked in a spectacular 30-metre free kick off the post in the 52nd and Cameroon's Achille Emana struck from the edge of the area soon after.

Deportivo La Coruna 3-1 Athletic Bilbao

Portuguese defender Ze Castro fired Depor in front with a free-kick after 20 minutes and his keeper Daniel Aranzubia maintained the advantage saving an Andoni Iraola penalty soon after.

Joan Verdu doubled Depor's lead from the penalty spot just before half-time. Bilbao pulled one back with a Javi Martinez header in the 72nd but were hit on the break in stoppage time when Mexico's Andres Guardado made sure of the points for Depor.

Will Tidey / Reuters

Comment 1 - 8 of 8

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  1. i didnt expect less. barca"s socalled form isnt real.you wl see wot wl happen 2 barca in the next 4 wks. they cant sustain the lead that i know 4 sure.they are meeting sevilla nx week it is only when they are lucky dat they wl get a draw.their recent achievments are a fluke.

    From shittu4soccer, on Mon 24 Nov 10:19AM
  2. Yes adrian m - but it happens quite often after those stupid friendlies midweek. Therefore all big tems with lots of int players in their sides were badly surprised.

    From dveselin73, on Mon 24 Nov 6:50AM
  3. getafe awesome...

    next time beat barca..

    From arif_isateenagerboy2625, on Mon 24 Nov 3:49AM
  4. It's still Barca u wishers!

    From Segun, on Mon 24 Nov 3:09AM
  5. barca will not have the laliga title...trust me

    From saiful, on Mon 24 Nov 1:47AM
  6. Go Barca ! :-)

    From art_tidesco, on Mon 24 Nov 1:32AM
  7. All the big teams across Europe have perform poorly this weekend. Almost like it was planned. Despite Madrid winning they were still scraping by as usual but what a @#$% weekend for football ...

    From adrian m, on Mon 24 Nov 12:11AM
  8. go getafe . :p

    From Jorge, on Sun 23 Nov 11:38PM
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