Giuly gifts Barcelona the points

By Andy Hall

FC Barcelona tightened their stranglehold on the leadership of the Primera División by defeating RC Deportivo La Coruña 1-0 at the Riazor on Saturday evening, while Marcos Assunçao scored his eighth goal of the season against Albacete Balompié to take Real Betis Balompié into third spot.

Giuly strike
Barça extended their lead at the top of the table to 14 points but were forced to play most of the second half with ten men following the dismissal of Rafael Márquez. Both teams enjoyed chances in a lively game before Ludovic Giuly arrived at the far post to rifle in a wayward shot from Sylvinho on eight minutes to put the visitors ahead.

Márquez off
Leading scorer Samuel Eto’o’s low drive flashed past the post soon after while at the opposite end, goalkeeper Víctor Valdés reacted quickly to smother Luque's free-kick. Márquez received the second of two bookings for a challenge on Juan Carlos Valerón on 51 minutes, leaving Barça to protect their lead with a numerical disadvantage.

Keepers busy
Valdés stuck out a hand to palm away Diego Tristán's effort on 69 minutes then Munúa pulled out a similarly remarkable save to keep Andrés Iniesta out towards the end, but the score remained unchanged and Depor stay ninth on 42 points.

Rivas scores
After 16 minutes of open play, Arzu provided the cross for Betis’s opening goal, the ball falling for David Rivas to head past Raúl Valbuena. Betis continued to pound Albacete’s goal with Fernando Fernández, Ricardo Oliviera and Assunçao all going close.

Assunçao winner
The southern side went 2-0 up when Assunçao surprised Valbuena with a glorious effort from outside the box just ahead of the hour mark. Mark González flicked Walter Peralta’s free-kick over Antonio Doblas on 74 minutes but it was too late for the visitors, who remain second from bottom on 24 points. Betis go third provisionally, one point ahead of Villarreal CF, who have a game in hand.

Espanyol held
Óscar De Paula’s 77th minute strike denied RCD Espanyol the chance to improve on their position in fifth place as Real Sociedad de Fútbol salvaged a point with a 2-2 draw at Montjuïc. Darko Kovacevic’s opener on 23 minutes was cancelled out by Raúl Tamudo from the penalty spot on 37 minutes. A second spot kick was awarded 10 minutes into the second half after Tamudo was felled for a second time and the striker duly converted the kick, only for De Paula to level late on.