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Madrid go top with come-from-behind win
Real Madrid battled back from 0-2 down to beat Sevilla 3-2 on Saturday and go top of the Spanish first division with Rafael Van der Vaart grabbing a dramatic stoppage time winner.
Real Madrid battled back from 0-2 down to beat Sevilla 3-2 on Saturday and go top of the Spanish first division with Rafael Van der Vaart grabbing a dramatic stoppage time winner.
After 10-man Barcelona were held 2-2 by Almeria, the onus was on Real who had the chance to go ahead of the Catalans on goal difference, and they managed it in dramatic fashion at the Bernabeu.
They slumped two-goals down an own-goal from Xabi Alonso and a Ivica Dragutinovic free-kick which caught out Real keeper Iker Casillas.
But Real piled on the pressure with Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos drawing their side level.
It appeared as though Real would have to settle for a draw before a grandstand finish saw Van der Vaart slot home from close range.
A brace from Leo Messi rescued a point for Barcelona at modest Almeria.
Domingo Cisma put the home side in front after he beat Carles Puyol in the air to head past keeper Victor Valdes.
Messi equalised, though, after a contentious free-kick was awarded for a foul on Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
An own-goal from Puyol and then the expulsion of Ibrahimovic for kicking out put Almeria firmly in the driving seat but Messi was Barca’s saviour, scoring his second from close range mid-way through the second half.
Earlier, a fine strike from Jose Guardado helped Deportivo la Coruna come from behind to beat Tenerife 3-1 and boost their European ambitions.
Inter the winners as Roma, Milan draw
Serie A leaders Inter Milan were the big winners without kicking a ball on Saturday as their two nearest title challengers AS Roma and AC Milan drew 0-0 at the capital’s Stadio Olimpico.
Earlier in the day Juventus had gone fourth after Fabio Grosso’s winner gave them a 2-1 success at freefalling Fiorentina.
But the big game happened in Rome where both teams were hoping to close in on the champions and establish themselves as Inter’s main rivals.
Milan coach Leonardo said he felt his side had deserved to win but insisted they are in good shape to try and overturn their 3-2 Champions League deficit against Man United next week.
