PHOTO: AFP
MADRID: Real Madrid warmed up for a big week by moving back to within two points of Barcelona at the top of La Liga with a comfortable 3-0 win over Almeria on Wednesday.
James Rodriguez’s stunning dipping volley a minute before the break lit up an otherwise drab first 45 minute.
Mauro Dos Santos’s own goal doubled Real’s advantage early in the second-half before Alvaro Arbeloa added a late third.
Real travel to Champions League-chasing Sevilla on Saturday before facing Juventus away in the first-leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday.
“We are in a very important part of the season and every game is the most important,” said Real boss Carlo Ancelotti. “I will play the strongest team against Sevilla despite the fact we then play against Juventus.”
The Italian added that his side will be doing their best to push Barcelona to the limits. “We are not convinced that Barca will drop two points, but we are that we are going to win the four remaining games.”
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid remain on course to finish third after Fernando Torres came off the bench to claim all three points in a 1-0 win at Villarreal. In a game of few clear-cut chances, Torres took advantage of a slip from Eric Bailly to run clear on goal and slot home just his second league goal since returning to his boyhood club in January.
Sevilla remain six points behind Atletico, but did move up to fourth with a 3-1 win away at struggling Eibar to move up to fourth.
Carlos Bacca struck twice inside the first 15 minutes to give the visitors a commanding advantage and Jose Antonio Reyes rounded off the scoring after Federico Piovaccari had pulled a goal back for the Basques.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 1st, 2015.
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