Barcelona beat Sevilla 2-0 at Sanchez Pizjuan and reduced the difference between themselves and the league leader Read Madrid to eight points as they drew against Malaga at Santiago Bernabeu. Before kick-off both teams were wearing t-shirts in support of Barcelona left back Eric Abidal, who is waiting for a liver transplant.

First Half

Guardiola’s players gave a clinic on ball possession in the first half hour. Xavi and Iniesta were the main architects for Barcelona. Pedro warned Seville with a shot from the centre of the area which Palop tipped away the goal. Xavi put forward the Catalans in the 17th minute with an excellent free-kick despite Palop’s best efforts to keep it out. This goal was his ninth liga goal, the most in Xavi’s career.

Messi played a one-two with Iniesta seven minutes later, when he nutmegged a Sevilla defender and chipped Palop. The Argentine made his 31st league goal and his 51st of the season. Manu del Moral had his chance to reduce the difference with a header but the ball went against the crossbar.

Pedro had two chances to score before the break, but his shot went away from the goal and Palop saved the second one. The hosts took advantage of poor defending from Gerard Pique and Kanoute had a clear chance to score, but Adriano came behind to prevent the danger. In the last minute, Fabregas shot from point-blank range but veteran Palop blocked it.

Second Half

Barcelona lost the control of the match in the first fifteen minutes, but the Andalusians continued failing their opportunities. Navas, who was the best player for the hosts, whipped an nice delivery towards the back post but Manul del Moral spoiled his assistance. Messi’s magic appeared in the 73th minute with a millimetric pass to Iniesta in a one-on-one with Palop. The Spanish international managed to fake out Palop who was unguarded, but his shot went wide of the post.

Sevilla created two more opportunities with the connection between Navas and Manu del Moral, but both were saved by the visiting goalkeeper Valdez. Chilean Alexis Sanchez had the third goal in his boots in a one-on-one with Palop after a counterattack, but the goalkeeper made a save with his feet — like handball keeper. Messi was disallowed his second goal by the referee for offside in the 89th minute.

After the match Guardiloa said in the press conference, despite Barcelona’s win: “Forget the liga, we are not going to win.”

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Real Madrid keeps its 10-point advantage over Barcelona after winning at Benito Villamarín 2-3 against Betis. Mourinho’s team knew how to use the punch of Ronaldo and Higuain despite their bad play to beat a great Betis. The home team was fighting until the last minute and claimed a penalty by Ramos, who rejected a shot with his hands, but the referee did not whistle on it.

First Half

Pepe Mel’s team was not intimidated over the danger of Real Madrid’s stickers in the counterattack. Betis played with its line defenders forward and pressing on Madrid’s midfielders. Betis had the passion of the ball while Madrid was waiting to have their chances. A nice combination of passes between Nacho and Ruben Castro had the ball ending up with Molina who put the hosts ahead in the ninth minute.

The joy of the fans lasted only 14 minutes since German play maker Ozil broke the defensive line of Betis with a long pass to Argentinean Higuain, who made the equalizer. In the last five minutes of the first half Betis got two chances: Stricker Castro slipped after dribbling clear Ramos; and playmaker Salva Sevilla, who rattled the crossbar after Casillas saved the ball by tipping it with his fingers in the freekick. Meanwhile, Ronaldo had his own chance to score but an inspired Fabricio denied him the goal.

Second Half

In a raid by Brazilian leftback Marcelo, he assisted Ronaldo inside the box who scored an easy goal in the 51st minute. Betis were at level three minutes later after Madrid failed to clear a corner; the ball was left inside the box to Montero, who blasted Casillas’ goal.

Betis got a double chance from low-range to beat Casillas, but he saved them. The match was still being played at high speed but Betis seemed tired and Madrid was launching quick counterattacks. Fabricio denied Marcelo’s goal with a spectacular save on the 62th minute.

The home team appealed penalties when Alonso touched Nacho’s cross with his hand. The referee who had to replace injured Iturralde Gonzalez at half-time did not give the maximum punishment.

In the 72th minute, a corner delivered by Kaka was headed by Ramos but Fabricio pulled out the ball to Ronaldo who score the winning goal. With 20 minutes remaining, Betis put forward their lines to try to get the draw. Ronaldo had another chance to make his hat-trick, but his foot was away from Fabricio’s goal.

In the extra time Betis got a last chance, a corner was only half-cleared and Montero took a shoot from long range that was repealed by Spanish defender Ramos by an arm. The referee blew the final whistle and ignored Betis’ complaints.

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Atletico Madrid drew at Sanchez Pizjuan against Sevilla on Saturday. Simeone’s team dominated the first half while Sevilla controlled the second half. The draw was a fair result for both squads who did not show enough ambition to claim the victory by maintaining the fight for the champions league place, which belongs to Malaga, four points ahead.

First Half

The Argentinean Toto Salvio connected a header into the bottom corner after a lovely delivery from the left wing by Gaby in the eight minute. Sevilla, despite their supporters, could not keep the ball and generate any danger to the Belgian keeper, Courtois.

Atletico Madrid won the battle to Seville in the midfield with four players (Tiago, Gabi, Mario and Koke) against Ratikic and Medel, who were unable to stop the charges of Salvio and Adrian from the wings.

Salvio was the biggest problem for the Sevilla defenders; The Argentinean had two more chances to extend Atletico’s advantage, but an inspirited Palop saved them. Atletico seemed to run out of stamina after half an hour.

Reyes, playing against his former club, tried a curly shoot from the right side but he missed the goal by inches in the 34th minute. Before the end of the first half, Kanoute came closer to making the equaliser but his header went away from the goal.

Second Half

Sevilla’s manager Michel introduced midfielder Trochoswki to balance his team and get more possession of the ball. Also Kanoute went to the top diamond position to give a hand creating more play for his teammate.

Soon the change improved Sevilla’s performance and Navas was the sharpest player in the right flank, creating many problems for Atletico’s defenders. Sevilla drew the match in the 53th minute when Navas whipped an excellent cross to stricker Baba who only had to choose side to score.

Simeone did not have any answers to stop the Sevilla offensive. Reyes shot a free kick from the right side but Courtois rejected it in the 60th minute. Twelve minutes later, Navas again delivery a perfect ball to Reyes’s head but the Atletico keeper saved it perfectly.

Sevilla almost got the win in the 89th minute, but the referee, Alfonso Álvarez disallowed correctly Manu del Moral’s goal for offside. The result left both Sevilla and Atletico Madrid levelled on 33 points in 11th and 10th respectively.

After the match, Simeone and Michel agreed that the result was fair for both teams and they still have their hopes to reach champions Leagues position.

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