Barca bomb Sociedad to occupy Spanish hot seat
Madrid, Dec. 13: Barcelona produced another magical display of attacking football to sweep aside Real Sociedad 5-0 and return to the La Liga summit.
Following Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Real Zaragoza, the onus was on Barcelona to maintain their two-point advantage and they took the game to their opponents from the start on Sunday.
With just eight minutes gone David Villa gave them the lead by converting a Pedro Rodriguez cross and from there it only got worse for Sociedad.
Barca added to their total when a fine passing movement culminated with an Andres Iniesta goal from a tight angle.
Lionel Messi, at his tantalising best, then hit a brace and there was still time for substitute Bojan Krkic to hit a fifth, a minute from the end.
“We are not aware of what these players are going to do. This normally may happen once or twice but it is happening all the time at the moment and we are privileged to be able to work with them,” said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.
Real gave a more workmanlike performance to overturn bottom club Zaragoza.
With several players missing through injury and suspension, Real survived a wasted chance for the home side’s Angel Lafita, before taking the lead when Mesut Ozil cut in from the right and beat the ’keeper.
Either side of the break Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria scored to give Real a commanding advantage but Zaragoza never gave in.
Gabi Fernandez pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after Nicolas Bertolo had been felled by Ricardo Carvalho.
After the game Real coach Jose Mourinho was critical of the referee who showed yellow cards to Marcelo and Xabi Alonso, ruling them out of the next game against Sevilla.
“I am not angry with Marcelo but I am about the situation. It is easy to give yellow cards to Real Madrid players and they are given out less to other teams. It seems that players from other teams can protest and at Real Madrid they can’t,” said Mourinho.
Pic Caption:
Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (right) vies with Real Sociedad defender Ion Ansotegui (centre) and midfielder Diego Rivas (left) during their Spanish League match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Sunday.
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