Six off in Barça win
14/12/2003
Six off in Barça win |
Six players were sent off as Barcelona came from
a goal down to beat struggling neighbours Espanyol 3-1 in a bizarre city derby
that saw both sides finish the match with only eight men. In Saturday's other
games, Villarreal dominated Real Sociedad 2-0 and Atlético Madrid defender
Lequi salvaged a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo with a spectacular strike.
Card-happy referee Alfonso Pino Zamorano dismissed
all six players for separate incidents in just 46 minutes but it was visitors
Barca who emerged from Montjuic with the all-important points after notching
their first win in five games.
The win propelled Barca into seventh place in the
table, 10 points behind leaders Real Madrid, who host third-placed Deportivo
Coruna at the Bernabeu on Sunday.
But the outlook looks increasingly bleak for
Espanyol who remain anchored to the foot of the table with just eight points
from 16 games.
Real Sociedad, who secured their place in the last
16 of the Champions League this week, also remain mired in the relegation zone
after they went down 2-0 at Villarreal. Fellow Champions League side Celta Vigo
are another side in trouble after they saw victory slip from their grasp when
Atletico Madrid defender Matias Lequi scored a superb solo goal eight minutes
from time to secure a 2-2 draw for the visitors.
The Galicians are now just a point above the drop
zone, while Atletico stay in fifth, level on points with Osasuna who visit
Racing Santander on Sunday.
Barcelona went a goal down after just eight minutes
at Montjuic when Jordi Cruyff scored with a fine diving header after a well
struck free kick from Ivan de la Pena.
RONALDINHO RETURN
But they were back on level terms two minutes later
when Ronaldinho, returning from a four-week injury lay-off, scored with a
deflected shot.
Kluivert made it 2-1 for Barca 11 minutes later
when he poked in at the near post at the second attempt and the Dutchman grabbed
his second 10 minutes before the break when he smashed in from close range after
Toni failed to gather a corner.
But the match began to turn ugly before the half
was out.
Discontented Espanyol fans started burning seats in
the stands and were involved with confrontations with the police, while tempers
also flared on the pitch after the home side had two strong penalty appeals
turned down and midfielder De la Pena dismissed for a foul on Michael Reiziger.
Two minutes after the restart Barca defender Rafael
Marquez was given his marching orders for a second booking, while team mate
Ricardo Quaresma followed him down the tunnel four minutes later for the same
reason.
Espanyol then lost Toni Soldevilla on 61 minutes
and Barca midfielder Philip Cocu was given a direct red for tangling with Raul
Tamudo as the striker raced towards the area.
There was little time for any real football, but
Barcelona still managed to spurn two great chances to extend their lead.
Referee Pino Zamorano had the final word with yet
another sending off two minutes before the end when Espanyol defender Albert
Lopo was dismissed after his second booking.
eurosport