Barca surrender perfect start with draw
La Liga heats up as competition increases between top ranked teams.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are only three points apart at the top of the league heading into next Saturday’s El Clasico at the Camp Nou. PHOTO: AFP
MADRID:
Barcelona missed the chance to equal the best ever start to a Spanish league season as they dropped their first points of the campaign in a 0-0 draw at Osasuna.
With Lionel Messi starting on the bench, the visitors failed to make the most of their dominance in the first-half with Marc Bartra’s wayward header their only serious effort on goal.
Neymar and Cesc Fabregas then passed up great chances to put Barca in front at the beginning of the second period before Messi was finally introduced for the final quarter.
However, even the Argentine couldn’t open the door as Osasuna stood firm to prevent Barca scoring in the league for the first time since January 2012.
“With the performance of the team and the chances we had, normally it would be enough for Barcelona to win but it wasn’t to be,” lamented Barca coach Gerardo Martino. “I am very calm with the performance of the team, especially because Osasuna is a team that can cause damage in their stadium and we didn’t suffer at all defensively.”
Barca had to settle for a point which leaves them just three points ahead of Real Madrid heading into next Saturday’s El Clasico at the Camp Nou.
Bale encouraged by return to action
Real Madrid cut the gap with a routine 2-0 win over Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Gareth Bale made his return to action for Los Blancos as a late substitute and won the penalty which Cristiano Ronaldo converted to seal the points after Angel di Maria had given Madrid the lead.
It was a much improved all round performance from Madrid, who were only denied a far more comfortable margin of victory due to a series of wonderful saves by Malaga keeper Willy Caballero.
“The game was good, I liked the attitude of the team,” said Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti. “We defended well, were more aggressive and compact.”
Meanwhile, Bale is hoping to finally make a significant impact at his new club. “I need to introduce myself now and prepare myself right for the rest of the season,” he said.
“It was massively important to get a win. We played well throughout and we’re now looking forward to the next game.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2013.
Barcelona missed the chance to equal the best ever start to a Spanish league season as they dropped their first points of the campaign in a 0-0 draw at Osasuna.
With Lionel Messi starting on the bench, the visitors failed to make the most of their dominance in the first-half with Marc Bartra’s wayward header their only serious effort on goal.
Neymar and Cesc Fabregas then passed up great chances to put Barca in front at the beginning of the second period before Messi was finally introduced for the final quarter.
However, even the Argentine couldn’t open the door as Osasuna stood firm to prevent Barca scoring in the league for the first time since January 2012.
“With the performance of the team and the chances we had, normally it would be enough for Barcelona to win but it wasn’t to be,” lamented Barca coach Gerardo Martino. “I am very calm with the performance of the team, especially because Osasuna is a team that can cause damage in their stadium and we didn’t suffer at all defensively.”
Barca had to settle for a point which leaves them just three points ahead of Real Madrid heading into next Saturday’s El Clasico at the Camp Nou.
Bale encouraged by return to action
Real Madrid cut the gap with a routine 2-0 win over Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Gareth Bale made his return to action for Los Blancos as a late substitute and won the penalty which Cristiano Ronaldo converted to seal the points after Angel di Maria had given Madrid the lead.
It was a much improved all round performance from Madrid, who were only denied a far more comfortable margin of victory due to a series of wonderful saves by Malaga keeper Willy Caballero.
“The game was good, I liked the attitude of the team,” said Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti. “We defended well, were more aggressive and compact.”
Meanwhile, Bale is hoping to finally make a significant impact at his new club. “I need to introduce myself now and prepare myself right for the rest of the season,” he said.
“It was massively important to get a win. We played well throughout and we’re now looking forward to the next game.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2013.