Spanish Football | Soccer

Three games played tonight, & the "Liga" title race is again up for
grabs after the leader Real Madrid lost & second placed Fc Barcelona
won to cut the gap to 5º points. Sevilla played well & won to get closer
to the European positions on the table.

Second straight loss away from home for REAL MADRID who went
down 2-1 to REAL BETIS. The first to score was DRENTHE in the
5th min for Real & it looked like they were "cruising", however things
just did´nt go right at all with chances that were not converted. Real
Betis put up a good show with a well organized team that frustrated the
oppositions moves, & they got their rewards in the 31st & 35 rd mins
with two goals from EDU (pictutred below) & MARK GONZALEZ to
put them into the lead.

From then on the anxiety to score from Real set in & they just could not
put the ball into the back of the net. Van Nistelrooy furthered the frustration
when he hit the post. Bad loss for the leaders!

Great match between RCD ESPANYOL & SEVILLA FC with the
latter winning 2-4 in a great football game. Sevilla started well with
goals from LUIS FABIANO & KANOUTE early. Espanyol reacted
& calmed down to regain control & then scored via LUIS GARCIA
in the 40th min.
It was the 2º half with a crazy time period between the 60 - 80th min
that saw Espanyol´s Zabaleta sent off, & goals from POULSEN in
the 73rd min, then for Espanyol via CORO in the 75th min , & Sevilla
again via CAPEL in the 77th min. Sevilla back to their best.

REAL ZARAGOZA lost 1-2 to FC BARCELONA in a controversial
game with disputed goals & two penalties. Barça´s win was important

as they have managed to cut the gap with Real Madrid from 8º to 5º

points in the title race.

The above picture is important. Diego Milito misses a penalty with
the ball flying over the bar. It was an opportunity for Zaragoza to

equalize after THIERY HENRY put Barça ahead in the 33rd min

with a goal that was hand-ball & should not have been allowed.

Zaragoza recovered from the missed penalty & regained control with
OLIVIERA equalizing in the 52nd min. Zaragoza could have gone ahead

but missed clear chances , until a penalty was reward for hand -ball from
Fran that was´nt to Barça, & RONALDINHO converted in the 88th
min to give Fc Barcelona the win.
Zaragoza finished very angry with the referee, & Barça thanked the
skies for the 3º points.