Football: Real restore 10-point advantage over Barca
Real Madrid crushed Espanyol 5-0 to record a 10th-straight league victory and restore their 10-point advantage over Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
Two goals from Gonzalo Higuain, and one each from Cristiano Ronaldo, Sami Khedira, and Kaka gave Real victory after Barcelona had reduced the gap to seven points with a battling 3-1 victory over Sporting Gijon on Saturday.
Madrid were dominant throughout and their quick passing and counter-attacking play, together with world-class finishing, was too much for a disappointing Espanyol side.
Real coach Jose Mourinho, who has already been installed as favourite to replace the sacked Andre Villas-Boas at Chelsea, opted to skip the post-match news conference, sending out his assistant Aitor Karanka instead.
“Higuain is a special player,” said Karanka. “When he’s not happy you can see it and when he is you can tell as well. Kaka’s another one — you can see on his face when he’s enjoying his football.”
Koffi Romaric for the visitors and Kaka for Madrid both tried their luck from long range in the opening periods but once the home team grabbed a 23rd-minute lead, the result was never in doubt.
Meanwhile, Valencia remain six points clear of Athletic Bilbao, who moved fourth after beating Real Sociedad 2-0.
The result will give Athletic confidence ahead of their trip to Old Trafford on Thursday to face Manchester United in the first leg of the last 16 of the Europa League where they will be backed by more than 4,000 travelling fans.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 6th, 2012.
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