http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...madrid?cc=4716
Ronaldo earns point for Real
CR scored fr the spot 2 earn 10-man Real Madrid a 1-1 draw against Barcelona in a highly-charged clasico but it was the Catalans who took a big step 2wards the title.
Although Barcelona maintained their 8-point lead @ the top of La Liga with 6 games left, it was important 4 Real 2 avoid another thrashing - such as the 5-0 defeat @ Camp Nou earlier tis season - with 3 more clasicos in the next 17 days set 2 decide the destination of the Copa del Rey & who will reach the final of the Champions League.
In Saturday night's tense encounter @ the Bernabeu, Lionel Messi scored fr the spot in the 53rd minute 2 give Barca the lead aft Raul Albiol was sent off 4 a foul on David Villa in the area.
Barca looked 2 be cruising 2wards a 6th consecutive victory against their arch-rivals under coach Pep Guardiola when Dani Alves tripped Marcelo & the referee awarded another penalty, converted by Ronaldo.
The equaliser lifted Real & their Germany midfielder Sami Khedira had a great chance 2 win the match in the final minute but shot straight @ Victor Valdes.
Sevilla's European hopes were dealt a severe blow as the Andalusians lost 1-0 @ out-of-form Getafe.
Miku scored the only goal of the game when he took advantage of some poor marking by Federico Fazio 2 latch onto Dani Parejo's pass & beat Javi Varas.
Sevilla started the day in 5th position, 8 points behind 4th-placed Villarreal, but had been making positive noises abt a return 2 the Champions League. With only 6 games now left, though, such a feat seems highly unlikely 4 Gregorio Manzano's side.
Julio Baptista made a memorable return fr injury as he bagged 2 goals in Malaga's impressive 3-0 victory over Real Mallorca.
Baptista had been sidelined for 6 weeks, but was back in the side & made an immediate impact 2 boost the Andalusians' survival hopes.
Sebas Fernandez gave Malaga the lead aft 26 mins & Baptista doubled the home side's advantage prior 2 HT, b4 adding a 2nd early in the 2nd period 2 move Manuel Pellegrini's men provisionally out of the relegation zone.
With only 6 games remaining 4 both Barca & Real, Barca took another step 2wards retaining the La Liga title.
Barca lead 2nd placed Real by 8 pts & 3rd placed Valencia by 22 points with 6 games remaining. Mathematically, only Real has a chance 2 overtake Barca.
Barca remaining 6 games in the La Liga :
- @ home vs Osasuna on 23 April.
- away vs Real Sociedad on 1 May.
- @ home vs Espanyol on 8 May.
- away vs Levante on 11 May.
- @ home vs Deportivo La Coruña on 15 May.
- away vs Málaga on 22 May.
Real remaining 6 games in the La Liga :
- away vs Valencia on 23 April.
- @ home vs Real Zaragoza on 1 May.
- away vs Sevilla FC on 8 May.
- @ home vs Getafe on 11 May.
- away vs Villarreal on 15 May.
- @ home vs Almeria on 22 May.
In betw these La Liga games, there r 3 Clasicos 2 be play betw Barca & Real starting with the Copa del Rey(Esp Cup) on 20 April @ Mestalla(Valencia), UCL SF 1st leg on 27 April @ Bernabéu & UCL SF 2nd leg @ Camp Nou.
Barca has the upper hand 4 the La Liga title.
Real k only fight 4 the Copa del Rey title on 20 April, & the UCL Final berth over the SF 2 legs.