Breathtaking Barça bask in victory
Sunday, May 8, 2005
Article summary
FC Barcelona closed to within three points of the Spanish Primera División title by winning away to Valencia CF.
Article body
By Andy Hall
For the fourth consecutive week, FC Barcelona held their nerve maintain their six-point lead at the Primera División summit and hold off the threat of Real Madrid CF, thanks to a 2-0 win at Valencia CF, while CD Numancia were relegated.
Ronaldinho strike
Barça found themselves up against an unflinching Valencia at the Mestalla but took the lead in stunning fashion on 27 minutes when Ronaldinho's blistering 20-metre drive nestled into the top corner. Just moments later, the Catalans breached the home defence yet again and Samuel Eto'o steered the ball past Andrés Palop to seal what could be a decisive victory. Frank Rijkaard's side, topping the table with 81 points, now require just one victory from the last three games to be crowned champions.
Cazorla winner
Santi Cazorla followed last week's thunderous strike against Getafe CF with another today to hand Villarreal CF victory at Málaga CF and take the side back into fourth place. In a hard-fought match, Villarreal took the initiative when Málaga were reduced to ten men when Cléber Romero was shown his second yellow card on 56 minutes. Juan Román Riquelme slotted the ball past Francesc Arnau soon after and Cazorla made certain of victory two minutes later, putting the side level with Sevilla FC in third.
Milestone win
RCD Espanyol remain just two points behind in fifth after cruising to a 3-0 win at home to Numancia, thus registering their 800th league victory. José Emilio Amavisca and Ferrán Corominas had given the Catalans a 2-0 lead just before the hour and Antonio González merely added to Numancia's woes, turning into his own net with eight minutes to go.
Getafe survive
RC Deportivo La Coruña move into ninth after defeating Club Atlético de Madrid 2-0 at the Riazor with Peter Luccin's own goal and Joan Capdevila's strike doing the damage. Elsewhere, Michel González scored twice as Getafe CF strolled to a 2-0 win at home to Real Sociedad de Fútbol to lift the Madrileños into 12th, while Albacete Balompié closed to within three points of safety with a 3-1 win against Levante UD 3-1.
