Giuly gets Barça back on track
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Article summary
Ludovic Giuly scored twice as FC Barcelona restored their six-point advantage by winning 4-0 away to Málaga CF.
Article body
By Andy Hall
A 4-0 win at Málaga CF enabled FC Barcelona to restore their six-point advantage at the top of the Primera División, while UEFA Champions League qualification hopefuls Sevilla FC and RCD Espanyol also triumphed.
Undeserved lead
Real Madrid CF whittled the lead down to three points with victory against Villarreal CF on Saturday, but Barça responded by going ahead with their first attempt on goal against Malaga through Oleguer Presas on 21 minutes, before Ludovic Giuly doubled their lead 12 minutes later.
Amoroso agony
The Frenchman claimed a second goal in the 67th minute, while any hope the home side had of getting back into the game were dashed when substitute Marcio Amoroso was dismissed with 15 minutes remaining for a wayward challenge on Carles Puyol. Gerard López's header sealed victory in added time.
Sevilla boosted
Sevilla opened up a two-point gap in third after defeating Athletic Club Bilbao 3-1 thanks to two goals from Julio Baptista and one from Jesús Navas, before Julen Guerrero replied late on for Athletic. Espanyol moved up to fourth with a 3-1 win against Real Zaragoza. Strikes from Raúl Tamudo and Maxi Rodríguez had put Espanyol two goals ahead before half-time and although David Villa pulled a goal back for Zaragoza on the hour, Tamudo sealed the win late on.
Betis slump
Real Betis Balompié fell behind the leading pack following a 3-2 loss against Real Sociedad de Fútbol. Goals from Joaquín Sanchez and Ricardo Oliveira cancelled out Mikel Labaka's early strike for Real, but José Javier Barkero levelled just after the hour and Gari Uranga hit the winner on 89 minutes.
Mista magic
Consequently, Valencia CF leapfrogged Betis into sixth after winning 2-0 against Albacete Balompié. The Spanish champions had to wait until the 69th minute to break the deadlock through Mista, then Miguel Ángel Angulo secured three points shortly afterwards.
Getafe glee
At the bottom, Yossi Benayoun's hat-trick helped Racing Club Santander to a 4-1 win against RC Deportivo La Coruña and move them nine points clear of the drop zone, while Getafe CF look certain to have preserved their top-flight status after a 1-0 win against Levante UD. However, despite defeating bottom club CD Numancia 2-1, RCD Mallorca remain seven points from safety.
