Barcelona's run of nine consecutive league victories came to end with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Getafe at Camp Nou. Manu gave the visitors a deserved lead with a fine curling shot midway through the first half before Seydou Keita headed home to appease the frustrated home crowd on 71 minutes. But for once Barcelona could not find a late goal to claim victory and were forced to drop their first points since a 1-1 draw with Racing Santander in early September. The result left Pep Guardiola's team three points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, while Getafe remain in the relative safety of 14th. Despite Barca's all-conquering form of late, it was Getafe who started the more confident side, dominating possession in the early exchanges. The visitors went ahead on 19 minutes when Manu collected a deflection off Gerard Pique and curled home a fine shot from 25 yards past Victor Valdes. Sylvinho and Samuel Eto'o went close with long-range efforts in the run-up to half-time, but ultimately Barca went into the break having failed to create a clear-cut opening. The second half brought predictable changes from Guardiola, who introduced Thierry Henry and Pedro to invigorate his lacklustre team Getafe could have doubled lead just after the hour mark, however, when Angel burst into the box before shooting just past the post with only Valdes to beat. But Barca gradually became dominant in midfield, with Xavi and Henry seeing plenty of the ball, and eventually the home side pulled level. Dani Alves was the creator, collecting possession on the right flank and curling over an inviting cross to the unmarked Keita six yards out. The striker headed home with ease to claim his second goal in as many games. The home side could have won the match on 80 minutes, but Roberto Abbondanzieri produced a spectacular stop to deny Pique's powerful header. Numancia 1-1 Atletico Madrid Atletico's Simao Sabrosa laid on the opener for Uruguay's Diego Forlan with a great pass after 35 minutes but Javier Aguirre's team were pegged back in the second half. The home side piled on the pressure and won a penalty in the 94th minute which Jose Barkero calmly put away. Osasuna 3-1 Almeria Striker Alvaro Negredo gave Almeria a sixth-minute lead from the penalty spot but the visitors were thrown onto the back foot two minutes later when Brazilian defender Guilherme was sent off for a reckless challenge. Uruguayan striker Walter Pandiani equalised with a looping header in the 13th minute, and Hernan Pellerano headed into his own net in the 71st before Hungarian Krisztian Vadocz wrapped up Osasuna's first league win this season at the end. Racing Santander 3-0 Espanyol Espanyol keeper Carlos Kameni failed to collect a free-kick after 11 minutes allowing Ivan Marcano to slot home in a crowded area, and Oscar Serrano doubled Racing's lead when Espanyol's defence only half-cleared a Pedro Munitis cross. A quickly taken free kick led to Jonathan Pereira rounding Kameni for the third goal after the break. Real Mallorca 2-2 Malaga Mallorca's Ivan Ramis diverted a low cross into his own net after 13 minutes but Josemi levelled with a piledriver from outside the area soon after. Malaga's French striker Nabil Baha broke clear to restore the visitors' lead, nutmegging the keeper, but sloppy defending allowed Mallorca's Pierre Webo to poach the equaliser in the 67th minute. Sporting Gijon 1-2 Real Betis Betis keeper Casto Espinosa spilled David Barral's shot for Diego Castro to score after 25 minutes but the visitors stormed back after the break. Argentine defender Luciano Monzon cracked in a spectacular 30-metre free kick off the post in the 52nd and Cameroon's Achille Emana struck from the edge of the area soon after.
Articles
