[SPAIN] Barcelona won 4-1 at Malaga to go top, while Villarreal won by the same score at Athletic Bilbao to go second. Previous leader Valencia came back twice at home to Racing Santander, but still ended up losing 4-2. Real Madrid was held by a late goal at Almeria, but edged into third place at Valencia’s expense.
Argentine Pablo Piatti was the cause of Real’s troubles, as he canceled out Raul’s first half diving header for Real with just seven minutes left thanks to a close-range volley. “We are pleased with the draw, but we let two points slip through our fingers,” said Real coach Bernd Schuster. “Once again we didn’t capitalize on good counterattacks and we never finished off a play that would have allowed us to score the second. I did like the team’s attitude, though.”
NJ-raised Giuseppe Rossi and U.S. striker Jozy Altidore were both on target for Villarreal in its 4-1 victory at Athletic Bilbao, Altidore scoring his first goal for the team despite coming on at the game’s death. Robert Pires and Santi Cazorla were also on target for Villarreal, which recovered well from its midweek 5-0 Spanish Cup hiding at third division Polideportivo Ejido.
Barcelona got off to its customary flying start when Xavi put the Catalans ahead after six minutes at Malaga on a rain-drenched field, though Portuguese midfielder Duda equalized seven minutes later. Lionel Messi put Barcelona back in front, then Xavi scored his second with the goal of the day when he volleyed home Thierry Henry‘s subtle set-up header. A late own goal finished the Malagans off.
With Barca going top, coach Pep Guardiola refused to be pressed on the changes he’s made since taking over from Frank Rijkaard in the summer. “I’m always being asked this,” he said. “We have to remember that Rijkaard achieved great things, and contributed to making Barca what it is today. And he did win La Liga and the Champions League. I wasn’t here then — I can only comment on the present.”
Barcelona jumped over Valencia, who had a shocker at home to struggling Real Santander, losing 4-2 despite twice coming back to level after go-ahead goals from the visitors. The win allowed Santander to move out of the relegation zone as they finished off the game with two late goals, Belgian striker Mohamed Tchite scoring a hat trick. Real Valladolid posted the comeback of the day, beating Sevilla 3-2 after being 2-0 down, with Uruguayan midfielder Nestor Canobbio netting the final two goals.
Elsewhere, Sporting Gijon won its fourth game on the trot, having lost all its first five, by beating Numancia 3-1 (including two goals for Mate Bilic, bringing his season’s total to six). Atletico Madrid beat Mallorca 2-0 on a brace from Argentine prodigy Sergio Aguero, and Deportivo La Coruna wiped the grass with Real Betis in its 3-0 road win, moving the team up to ninth.
Overall, there were 35 goals in ten games (3.5 per game), comparing favorably with the high-scoring Bundesliga (32 in nine games) and the tight Italian league (24 in ten games). The English Premier League tallied 30 in nine games, with Monday’s Aston Villa-Newcastle game still to come.
HIGHLIGHT (VIDEO): Jozy’s final flourish for Villarreal at Athletic Bilbao, the fourth in a series of fine, low-shot finishes for the second-placed side.