La Liga - Barca drop points, Atletico lose again

Eurosport - Sat, 31 Oct 20:51:00 2009

A terrible defensive error by Barcelona's Rafael Marquez handed Osasuna an injury-time equaliser in a 1-1 draw in Pamplona.

osasuna celebrate - 0

The normally reliable Mexico defender, who had ironically been brought on as a second-half substitute to replace the shaky-looking Dmitro Chygrynskiy, dilly-dallied in the final seconds of injury time to allow Javier Camunas to drill a low cross that Gerard Pique turned past his own keeper Victor Valdes.

In truth Barcelona barely deserved the win, which Seydou Keita seemed to have given them during the second half of a poor game.

With 18 minutes left, the Mali midfielder finished into an open net after Carles Puyol's cross wreaked havoc in the home penalty area.

But Marquez's howler let the hosts snatch a point that reduces Barca's lead at the top of La Liga to just one point over Real Madrid, who were victorious against Getafe.

It was an unusually quiet match, with Barca restrained with their attacking play and Osasuna content to look for the occasional counter.

The Blaugrana's stars were subdued, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic highly disappointing and Lionel Messi only sporadic in his influence, although a well-drilled Osasuna side had their part to play in containing the Spanish and European title holders.

The main highlight of a tepid first half was a controversial yellow card shown to Osasuna's Carlos Aranda for diving, when it seemed Pique had tugged his shirt in the box.

Otherwise, Barcelona played a slow, possession game while their hosts counter-attacked, both to little effect.

The best chance fell to Ibrahimovic, who was found on the edge of the box by Xavi's 31st-minute corner but was denied by Josetxo's block, with the defender following up by stopping Puyol tucking away the rebound.

Osasuna had opportunities of their own though, with the best coming when Aranda was denied by Puyol's tackle as the Barca captain atoned for giving the ball to Walter Pandiani.

It was goalless at the break and the second half was hardly more promising.

Ricardo was forced into action 11 minutes in when Eric Abidal's teasing cross flew into the six-yard box, while Miguel Flano was lucky not to be sent off on 68 minutes when he brought down Ibrahimovic on half-way - the Swede had a clear run at goal but the referee decided Flano got the ball, which replays showed he did not.

Four minutes later Barca did take the lead, when Messi found Puyol overlapping on the right wing and the Catalan, playing right-back, drilled a low cross that went through Xavi's legs but landed to Keita, who had a simple finish from close range.

From that point on they bossed possession, controlling the latter stages of the game with Messi twice going close to a second but denied by smart stops from Ricardo.

The Liga leaders seemed to have done enough to contain Osasuna, who barely threatened, but three minutes into injury time Marquez's moment of madness struck and Camunas could hardly believe his luck when his hopeful centre cannoned off the hapless Pique with Valdes wrong-footed.

Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Atletico Madrid

Athletic Bilbao were fortunate to beat struggling Atletico Madrid 1-0 in La Liga at San Mames.

Javi Martinez's 19th-minute header gave the hosts a win over an Atletico side who hit the woodwork three times and were, overall, unfortunate to lose.

Atletico started reasonably well, making the early running and going close when Maxi Rodrqiguez's header came off the post on 12 minutes and Fernando Amorebieta denied Sergio Aguero a simple finish from the rebound.

But the Rojiblancos' defensive curse struck again as, seven minutes later, they allowed Javi Martinez to fly in unchallenged at the far post to head Pablo Orbaiz's free-kick across Sergio Asenjo into the bottom right.

For the next 25 minutes Quique Sanchez Flores's new team were under the cosh, with Asenjo bravely rushing out to save at the feet of Markel Susaeta and Gaizka Toquero on two occasions just after the half-hour mark.

Oscar de Marcos was the next to be foiled by the young Atletico goalkeeper, although Asenjo almost made a hash of stopping his route to goal after hesitating to come out.

Aguero thought he had levelled just before the break but - after Forlan found him with an inch-perfect cross - Amorebieta again appeared from nowhere to block his finish.

The hosts led at the break but Atletico came out stronger for the second half.

Forlan drilled a low shot just wide seconds after the restart, while two minutes later Maxi hit the side netting after Forlan's excellent cross was nicked away from Aguero by the ubiquitous Amorebieta.

Just after the hour, Susaeta's header almost doubled the home side's lead but he was foiled by a good, low Asenjo save.

Atletico were the more dangerous though and they were mightily unfortunate not to level with 15 minutes to go when they hit the woodwork twice in 60 seconds through spectacular long-range shots from Forlan and Aguero.

Soon afterwards, Forlan forced a smart stop from Gorka Iraizoz after clever build-up play from Jose Manuel Jurado and Aguero but for all their pressure they were unable to grab an equaliser as Athletic Club moved into the top half of the table.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

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  1. I suspect Gatef fc in there last march in­ barnaboooooo.
    You could see the way they play that game­ confirmed that brown envelope
    stuff with euro has­ exchange hand.

    From samimancourier, on Mon 2 Nov 9:36AM

  2. A draw away to Osasuna was never a bad result.
    What­ about 4 zero away loss to a division 4 with a 3,000­ capacity stadium.
    haahaha hehehehehh hohohohoohhohohh.

    From samimancourier, on Mon 2 Nov 9:30AM

  3. #17, The march was played in Nou­ Camp?????
    Hahahahahahahahahahahahah.
    Very pathetic­ indeed!!!!!!!!!

    From samimancourier, on Mon 2 Nov 9:18AM

  4. It's ok barcelona fans, you will get use to it, cuz­ all that Barcelona is gona win this year is­ N.O.T.H.I.N.G hahaaaa...no wait, also they are gonna­ win there own embaressmant at el classico, both home­ and away )))
    Halla Madrid, You are the best and most­ popular, watched, and titled team of ALL TIMES )))
    Last­ year at this time madrid was like 10 points behind of­ barcelona,
    now its a matter of one tied game before we­ reclaim the top spot...so were
    is the smartass that­ was claiming that money does not buy success ?
    Listen­ Idiot, for gifted retards like yourself-yes, when great­
    clubs are in second spot, even for one year, and even­ behind
    a strong team like barcelona was last year,­ yes, those kind
    of teams with ambitions actually spend­ money, this way they be the best at all the time, the­ most watched, talked about and titled
    team in the­ world...Comprende ))))?

    From artakjan2001, on Mon 2 Nov 9:10AM

  5. It's ok barcelona fans, you will get use to it, cuz­ all that Barcelona is gona win this year is­ N.O.T.H.I.N.G hahaaaa...no wait, also they are gonna­ win there own embaressmant at el classico, both home­ and away )))
    Halla Madrid, You are the best and most­ popular, watched, and titled team of ALL TIMES )))
    Last­ year at this time madrid was like 10 points behind of­ barcelona,
    now its a matter of one tied game before we­ reclaim the top spot...so were
    is the smartass that­ was claiming that money does not buy success ?
    Listen­ Idiot, for gifted retards like yourself-yes, when great­
    clubs are in second spot, even for one year, and even­ behind
    a strong team like barcelona was last year,­ yes, those kind
    of teams with ambitions actually spend­ money, this way they be the best at all the time, the­ most watched, talked about and titled
    team in the­ world...Comprende ))))?

    From artakjan2001, on Mon 2 Nov 9:09AM

  6. It's ok barcelona fans, you will get use to it, cuz­ all that Barcelona is gona win this year is­ N.O.T.H.I.N.G hahaaaa...no wait, also they are gonna­ win there own embaressmant at el classico, both home­ and away )))
    Halla Madrid, You are the best and most­ popular, watched, and titled team of ALL TIMES )))
    Last­ year at this time madrid was like 10 points behind of­ barcelona,
    now its a matter of one tied game before we­ reclaim the top spot...so were
    is the smartass that­ was claiming that money does not buy success ?
    Listen­ Idiot, for gifted retards like yourself-yes, when great­
    clubs are in second spot, even for one year, and even­ behind
    a strong team like barcelona was last year,­ yes, those kind
    of teams with ambitions actually spend­ money, this way they be the best at all the time, the­ most watched, talked about and titled
    team in the­ world...Comprende ))))?

    From artakjan2001, on Mon 2 Nov 9:09AM

  7. It's ok barcelona fans, you will get use to it, cuz­ all that Barcelona is gona win this year is­ N.O.T.H.I.N.G hahaaaa...no wait, also they are gonna­ win there own embaressmant at el classico, both home­ and away )))
    Halla Madrid, You are the best and most­ popular, watched, and titled team of ALL TIMES )))
    Last­ year at this time madrid was like 10 points behind of­ barcelona,
    now its a matter of one tied game before we­ reclaim the top spot...so were
    is the smartass that­ was claiming that money does not buy success ?
    Listen­ Idiot, for gifted retards like yourself-yes, when great­
    clubs are in second spot, even for one year, and even­ behind
    a strong team like barcelona was last year,­ yes, those kind
    of teams with ambitions actually spend­ money, this way they be the best at all the time, the­ most watched, talked about and titled
    team in the­ world...Comprende ))))?

    From artakjan2001, on Mon 2 Nov 9:07AM

  8. what's all this fuzz all about? pamplona was never­ an easy trip for barca

    From Varnavas P, on Sun 1 Nov 7:00PM

  9. Hala Madrid!!

    From chechenr, on Sun 1 Nov 4:16PM

  10. @stavros h

    Pull your head out your @rse so you can­ smell the $h!t you're saying!!!

    Typical b0!!0cks­ from a barcanubla nub lol.

    From Cerberus, on Sun 1 Nov 1:49PM

  11. Very unlucky game for Barca. The referee made the­ biggest mistake. All people in the world saw that was a­ red card situation. He did not...
    Marquez and­ Chygrinksy are disappointment for me so far. They both­ make many unnecessary mistakes. Apart from that things­ going well and unlucky periods should end (Rubin,­ Osasuna). The moment of justice coming: final round in­ the CL and Barca-Real soon: I hope all big names can­ play in Real, too. Much more sweet to beat them with­ Cronaldo and Kaka playing.
    And for (19): the game was­ in Pamplona.

    From kadas.gabor, on Sun 1 Nov 10:59AM

  12. yes those blanket statements are very intelligent.­ Barcelona have honour and dignity, Madrid has nothing.­ Every Barca player is a saint, every Madrid player is a­ bum. Why can't people just grow up?

    From Csaba, on Sun 1 Nov 10:49AM

  13. stavros h

    Where did Barca play? Nou Camp
    Who did Barca­ play with? Osasuna
    How many goals did Barca make? 1
    How­ many own goals did Barca make? 1

    You're saying­ they deserved to win?

    From Lukas, on Sun 1 Nov 4:04AM

  14. Osasuna played good. Conceded only one goal against­ Barca is great, I think

    From Lukas, on Sun 1 Nov 4:02AM

  15. Its very obvious that Marquez has outlived his­ usefulness in Barca. He has lost those sublime­ defensive skills and confidence since returing from­ this injury that took him out since the CL draw with­ Chelsea at Camp Nou. As for Chigrynskiy, he has not yet­ shown to us the reason why he was bought. While it is­ fair to say this is his first season in Spain, this­ excuse should not be use when you are playing for the­ best team in the world today. Professionalism requires­ and demands he find his feet mush quicker to fit into­ the back four. With Alves still out and with this­ fumbling duo still playing like pregant women, i wonder­ how Barca survives the coming challenges. I suggest­ another central defender is brought in as well as a­ striker since the African players in the team will be­ out for the Nations Cup. Todays draw should be­ seriously looked into and remedies made. UP BARCA!!!!

    From Darlington I, on Sun 1 Nov 3:19AM

  16. So who scored the own goal? Barcelona. If you manage to­ score only 1 goal and then concede a moronic own goal,­ then you don't deserve to win! lol. what does­ 'a righteous way to draw' even mean?

    From Csaba, on Sun 1 Nov 2:27AM

  17. YES CHELSEA AND REAL MADRID ARE PROBABLY OUR 2 GREATEST­ RIVALS...AND THEY ARE VERY POTENT TEAMS.BUT BARCA HAS­ THE EDGE,IN THE CHARACTER OF ITS PLAYERS,IN THE STYLE­ OF ITS PLAY AND IN THE UNICEF ON ITS SHIRT.YES,BARCA­ HATERS-WE ARE MORALLY AND AESTHETICALLY SUPERIORS.AND­ LETS NOT FORGET...CURRENT CHAMPIONS OF ALL!!!!!!VISCA­ EL BARCA!!!

    From stavros h, on Sun 1 Nov 1:05AM

  18. Barcelona barely deserved the win?Were you watching the­ game or your Anglo-centric worldview does not allow you­ STILL to swallow that BARCA are European Champs and not­ any of your mindless and graceless EPL sides????Surely­ it was not a great game for them but they created a few­ chances whilst Osasuna did not.An own goal in the dying­ seconds is hardly a righteous way of drawing with­ Barca.On the whole Barca deserved a narrow victory but­ even the draw is not an outrageous result.What is of­ note however is the eagerness of the British press to­ underestimate/downplay/overlook/dismiss and refute­ probably the greatest football team of all-time...and­ arguably the best of the last 2 decades.PATHETIC...

    From stavros h, on Sun 1 Nov 1:01AM

  19. to #2,#6 and #11,barca is a team with full respect of­ their opponent's team...they are full of humility­ and are always on the ground...unlike ur white muppets­ who waste big,talk big,but lack respect...and chelsea­ too....mark that....

    From eevernc, on Sun 1 Nov 12:56AM

  20. hahahahahahahaha not 4 long 1st barca
    chelsea and real­ madrid number one

    From MOHAMED, on Sun 1 Nov 12:19AM
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