Sociedad held, Barça improvement continues
Spanish first division pacesetters Real Sociedad extended their unbeaten run on Sunday but had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home to Malaga, while Barcelona beat Recreativo 3-0.
Spanish first division pacesetters Real Sociedad extended their unbeaten run on Sunday but had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home to Malaga, while Barcelona beat Recreativo 3-0.
A Nihat Kahveci freekick put Real ahead on eight minutes but Kizito Musampa's deflected drive from the edge of the area levelled the scores after 20 minutes.
The Basque side went ahead again as an attempted clearance from Malaga keeper Pedro Contreras struck Dmitry Khokhlov on the back and rebounded into the net three minutes later.
Malaga equalised with a fine turn and shot from Dario Silva 12 minutes into the second half and managed to hold on for a draw, despite the sending-off of their Uruguayan midfielder Marcelo Romero six minutes from time.
A draw extended the Real Sociedad lead at the top of the table from five to six points but Real Madrid could halve that advantage if they win at home to Valencia in Sunday's late game.
After 16 games, Real Sociedad are the only unbeaten side in the Spanish first division with 36 points. Real Madrid are in second on 30, with Deportivo Coruna's 3-0 derby win at home to Celta Vigo on Saturday taking them up to third a point further back. Valencia were fourth on 28 points ahead of Sunday's game at the Bernabeu.
Barcelona's improvement continued as they moved up to eighth place, still 14 points off the championship pace, with a second successive league win, 3-0 at home to the first division's bottom club Recreativo Huelva. Fabio Rochemback put Barca ahead on nine minutes with a right-foot blast from the edge of the area and Patrick Kluivert's cross-shot on 26 minutes led to the second, as Recreativo defender Loren deflected the ball in.
Paraguayan fullback Nelson Zelaya was sent off 51 minutes into his Recreativo debut for bringing down Kluivert in the area but Xavi fired the spot kick against the post.
Despite relentless pressure, Barca had to settle for just one more goal, Philip Cocu exchanging passes with Thiago Motta and racing through on the left side of the area to produce a precise finish and wrap up the win 10 minutes from time.