Football: Guardiola finds it tough going against Sporting
Real win 4-0 to keep gap to a single point in La Liga.
MADRID:
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola admitted his team found it tough to overcome a competitive Sporting Gijon side in La Liga as the defending champions notched up a laboured 1-0 win to go top of the table.
Guardiola felt that playing right after a Champions League game is always a tough ask for his team.
“We played a strong Sporting who were very deep and worked together well,” he said. “There was no space because they closed it down. When we play after a Champions League game, it is difficult but I think we did well in the first half and then faded after that.”
Adriano gave the injury-plagued Barcelona their first away win of the season and was happy at having scored a crucial goal for his team.
“It was hard work but it was worth it,” said Adriano. “The points are worth their weight in gold.”
Higuan’s hat-trick fires Real
Meanwhile, Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho was a satisfied man after a convincing win at Espanyol thanks to Gonzalo Higuain blasting a hat-trick in a 4-0 victory.
“I was happy with the way all my players performed and also that of the opposition,” said Mourinho, who has complained in recent weeks that rivals have sought simply to defend against his team. “The 4-0 scoreline was a result of our first two goals as they then had to attack and this extra space allowed us to score more. We are now only a point off the lead which is not a big problem.”
Higuan was delighted at his superb show in the match.
“I had to work very hard to get back to playing again,” said Higuain, who was referring to the back injury that made him miss much of last season. “I recovered as best I could and I´m now delighted to have had a game like this.”
Levante beat Real Betis
In another match, Levante had Juanlu Gomez to thank for their 1-0 win over Real Betis, their fourth successive victory.
Levante coach Juan Ignacio Martinez was relieved after the crucial win as his team tries to avoid relegation.
“We are only thinking that we have taken a step closer to our target,” said Martinez.
Promoted Betis had won their first four games on the trot, but succumbed to their second straight defeat.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola admitted his team found it tough to overcome a competitive Sporting Gijon side in La Liga as the defending champions notched up a laboured 1-0 win to go top of the table.
Guardiola felt that playing right after a Champions League game is always a tough ask for his team.
“We played a strong Sporting who were very deep and worked together well,” he said. “There was no space because they closed it down. When we play after a Champions League game, it is difficult but I think we did well in the first half and then faded after that.”
Adriano gave the injury-plagued Barcelona their first away win of the season and was happy at having scored a crucial goal for his team.
“It was hard work but it was worth it,” said Adriano. “The points are worth their weight in gold.”
Higuan’s hat-trick fires Real
Meanwhile, Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho was a satisfied man after a convincing win at Espanyol thanks to Gonzalo Higuain blasting a hat-trick in a 4-0 victory.
“I was happy with the way all my players performed and also that of the opposition,” said Mourinho, who has complained in recent weeks that rivals have sought simply to defend against his team. “The 4-0 scoreline was a result of our first two goals as they then had to attack and this extra space allowed us to score more. We are now only a point off the lead which is not a big problem.”
Higuan was delighted at his superb show in the match.
“I had to work very hard to get back to playing again,” said Higuain, who was referring to the back injury that made him miss much of last season. “I recovered as best I could and I´m now delighted to have had a game like this.”
Levante beat Real Betis
In another match, Levante had Juanlu Gomez to thank for their 1-0 win over Real Betis, their fourth successive victory.
Levante coach Juan Ignacio Martinez was relieved after the crucial win as his team tries to avoid relegation.
“We are only thinking that we have taken a step closer to our target,” said Martinez.
Promoted Betis had won their first four games on the trot, but succumbed to their second straight defeat.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid could only manage a 0-0 draw with Sevilla in a match between two sides who are expected to be fighting for a Champions League place by the end of the season.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2011.