Journalism of Courage
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This is an archive article published on May 3, 2005
Advantage Barca
Barcelona restored their six-point lead over Real Madrid in the Primera Liga on Sunday as a spectacular strike from Samuel Eto8217;O and a ...
Written by Simon Baskett
Madrid | May 3, 2005 12:00 AM IST
2 min read
2 min read
Barcelona restored their six-point lead over Real Madrid in the Primera Liga on Sunday as a spectacular strike from Samuel Eto8217;O and a cool finish from substitute Lionel Messi contributed to a 2-0 win over Albacete.
The African Player of the Year notched up his 22nd goal of the season when he cracked a stunning first-time shot into the far corner to break the resistance from a stubborn Albacete. Messi added a second with a delicate chip in the final minute.
With four games left to play Barca have 78 points, Real follow on 72, a distant 14 ahead of Sevilla who gained the edge in the race for the remaining two Champions League places with an emphatic 2-0 win at home to Deportivo Coruna. Barca have the added advantage of a better head-to-head record against Real and will claim their first league title in six years if they can win two of the remaining four games.
Earlier Villarreal got their bid for a Champions League place back on track by crushing Getafe 4-0 at home to notch up their first win in five games.
Former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan took his tally for the season to 20 goals with two close-range strikes, while Argentine midfielder Juan Pablo Sorin and Santi Cazorla added the others.
The win left Villarreal in fourth place, three points behind Sevilla and two ahead of last season8217;s champions Valencia and Espanyol.
Venezuelan forward Juan Arango was the hero for relegation-threatened Real Mallorca, scoring in his side8217;s 3-2 comeback victory over Espanyol minutes after stepping on to the pitch in his first game since suffering a serious head injury in March. The win gave Hector Cuper8217;s side renewed hope of avoiding the drop and left them just four points behind Levante who lost 1-0 at home to Malaga. Reuters
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