Barcelona, Sevilla maintain pressure on Madrid

MADRID, Spain -- Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar were all on target as Barcelona shrugged off the loss of the injured Sergio Busquets to remain just two points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid with a 4-0 win at Eibar on Sunday.

Sevilla separate the giants of Spanish football in second, just a point behind Madrid, after twice coming from behind to edge a seven-goal thriller 4-3 at rock-bottom Osasuna.

However, Real Madrid also have a game in hand over their title rivals.

Barca's visit to the Basque Country was only eight minutes in when Busquets had to be carried off with ankle ligament damage after a dangerous challenge from Gonzalo Escalante that went unpunished.

"The good news about Sergio Busquets is that it doesn't look as serious as we first thought," Barca boss Luis Enrique told Spanish TV station Movistar.

The visitors were briefly unsettled as a fine save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen prevented Adrian Gonzalez giving Eibar a shock lead at the tiny 6,200 capacity Ipurua.

Yet, there was little doubt over the outcome once Denis Suarez, who had replaced Busquets, drilled home his first Barca goal into the far corner from outside the box on the half hour mark.

Neymar missed a one-on-one and Luis Suarez hit the post as Barca squandered a series of chances to kill off the game before half-time.

However, Messi doubled their lead just six minutes into the second-half when he swept home Luis Suarez's cross for his 28th goal in 26 games this season.

And Luis Suarez matched his strike partner as La Liga's top scorer this season with 15 when he robbed Florian Lejeune before slotting home at the near post 22 minutes from time.

Neymar hadn't scored from open play since October, but brought that run to an end by slotting home Aleix Vidal's low cross in stoppage time.

"A positive run of results means everything flows better, the players have more confidence," added Enrique after a fourth straight win.

"But we are still far off where we want to be."

- Record-breaking Sevilla -

Sevilla scored twice in the final five minutes to end Real Madrid's 40-game unbeaten run in all competitions last weekend and have now won five of the seven La Liga games when they have conceded first this season.

"The team did some good things and made mistakes, but from start to finish looked to win the game," said Sevilla boss Jorge Sampaoli.

"To finish the first half of the season with a record number of points (42) and be second fills us with excitement for what is to come."

Sergio Leon gave Osasuna a shock early lead before an unusual hat-trick from Sevilla captain Vicente Iborra levelled at 2-2 as he twice equalised either side of an own goal to restore Osasuna's lead.

Osasuna were infuriated Franco Vazquez's vital third goal for Sevilla was allowed to stand despite a push on Oriol Riera 10 minutes from time.

Pablo Sarabia's fine left-footed shot from outside the area sealed the points, but there was still time for Osasuna to pull another goal back when Kenan Kodro headed in from close range.

Atletico Madrid lost further ground on the top three as they needed a spectacular Antoine Griezmann equaliser 10 minutes from time to secure a 2-2 draw at Athletic Bilbao.

Diego Simeone's men are now eight points back on Real Madrid.

The visitors got off to the perfect start when Koke's cross towards Griezmann evaded everyone and flew into the far corner after just three minutes.

However, Atletico were punished for trying to sit on their lead when Inigo Lekue smashed home an equaliser three minutes before half-time.

Athletic then went in front as former Atletico favourite Raul Garcia crossed for Oscar de Marcos to head home.

Griezmann had already had one spectacular finish ruled out by the offside flag, but the French international continued his fine form with a rasping low drive from 25 yards to at least salvage a point for Atletico.

Real Sociedad move level on points with Atletico in fourth as Juanmi's towering header 18 minutes from time handed them a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Atletico oust Bayern to reach Champions League final

MUNICH - Atletico Madrid reached the Champions League final on away goals on Tuesday after a 2-1 defeat at Bayern Munich, in which both sides missed a penalty, with the exhilarating tie finishing 2-2 on aggregate.

Atletico will play in the showpiece match for the second time in three seasons against either city rivals Real Madrid, who beat them in the 2014 final, or Manchester City, with the second semi-final scheduled for the Bernabeu on Wednesday.

Bayern's exit ended their hopes of claiming a treble with Atletico going through to the May 28 final at the San Siro in Milan after winning the first leg 1-0 last week.

The Bavarians went ahead with a Xabi Alonso free kick just past the half-hour and could have scored again three minutes later but Thomas Mueller's penalty was saved by Jan Oblak.

Atletico levelled through Frenchman Antoine Griezmann's seventh goal of this season's competition in the 54th, meaning Bayern would need at least two more goals to progress.

Bayern's Poland striker Robert Lewandowski set up a dramatic finale with his 74th minute goal before Atletico's Fernando Torres had an 85th minute spot kick saved by Manuel Neuer.

But it made no difference in the end as Bayern suffered a third straight elimination by a Spanish team at this stage in their three seasons under Pep Guardiola.

"They were better, but we scored an away goal, which was important. We need to keep grounded and first of all think of the Liga before the final," said Griezmann, whose side are level on points with leaders Barcelona in the Spanish title race.

"We're delighted. It was difficult, a really hard game, we had a great opponent in front of us and we had to both defend and try to score. That's what we did," he added.

BITTER PILL

Guardiola, in his final Champions League home game at Bayern before his move to Manchester City for next season, started with defender Jerome Boateng, back from a three-month injury break on Saturday, and Franck Ribery, himself back from injury.

With a newly-discovered intensity, the Bavarians were dominant in the first half, successfully navigating through the Spaniards' high pressing game and grabbing their first chance with a Lewandowski header in the 12th minute.

"We are a bit lost for words," said Neuer. "We played great football today, did everything we set out to do but it is bitter not to be travelling to Milan for the final."

Atletico keeper Oblak was kept busy in the first half, with the tables turned and Bayern doing the pressing -- having 12 shots compared to Atletico's two by the half hour.

Alonso finally got the hosts a deserved lead in the 31st minute, his low free kick clipping Atletico's Jose Maria Gimenez to cancel out Atletico's first-leg advantage.

Bayern pushed for a second goal and thought they would have it when Javi Martinez was brought down by Gimenez in the box to earn a penalty three minutes later.

But Oblak saved Mueller's spot kick and Atletico stunned the home crowd after the break when Griezmann linked up with Torres and charged through to beat Neuer with a fine finish.

With Bayern now on the backfoot and needing at least two more goals to advance, Atletico grew bolder and Juanfran's shot on the hour sailed narrowly wide.

Lewandowski put Bayern back in front on the night with a close-range header to spark a dramatic finale but they could not find another goal and their Champions League hopes were over.

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; editing by Ken Ferris)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

LA LIGA: Title rivals Barca, Atletico and Real all win

BARCELONA - La Liga leaders Barcelona moved closer to retaining their crown with a lacklustre 2-0 away win over 10-man Real Betis thanks to goals from Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez on Saturday.

Atletico Madrid kept pace as substitute Antoine Griezmann fired them to a 1-0 home win over struggling Rayo Vallecano, while Real Madrid's Gareth Bale scored in a 1-0 victory at Real Sociedad that leaves them still a point behind.

Barcelona remain at the summit on 85 points, level with Atletico but having a superior head-to-head record, while Real are third with 84 points and two games of the season left.

Betis had centre-back Heiko Westermann sent off in the 35th minute for a second booking and Ivan Rakitic pounced on a defensive mishap to put Barca five minutes after the break.

Luis Suarez then scored his 35th goal of the La Liga season to finish Betis off in the 81st, meaning Barca can guarantee a 24th league title with wins at home to Espanyol and away to Granada.

Barcelona struggled to break down Betis even after Westermann was dismissed but a misunderstanding between defender German Pezzella and goalkeeper Antonio Adan allowed Rakitic to tap in from close range and break the deadlock.

Suarez then made up for missing a clear chance earlier in the second half by finishing off Lionel Messi's low pass from inside the area.

Barca manager Luis Enrique reacted angrily to suggestions his team had underperformed against Betis.

"What's the problem, if you don't win 8-0 does it not count?" he told a news conference."

"This is a very competitive league with three teams fighting for the title. Looking at the results I don't think any of the three teams are going to slip up and it's in our own hands."

BALE DELIVERS

Bale, who scored twice as Madrid came from two goals down to win 3-2 at Rayo Vallecano last weekend, again delivered when it mattered, nodding in Lucas Vazquez's cross in the 80th minute.

It was the Welshman's ninth headed goal in the league this season, more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues, and earned Madrid the points despite a frustrating afternoon against the side who beat Barcelona earlier this month.

With Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema injured, it was again up to Bale to lead the line, with coach Zinedine Zidane making five changes after the 0-0 at Manchester City in the Champions League semi-final in midweek.

Bale missed several chances before finally breaking the deadlock with 10 minutes remaining, leaping at the near post to glance Vazquez's cross into the top corner for his 19th goal of the league campaign.

With top scorers Ronaldo and Benzema facing a race against time to be fit for Wednesday's second leg against City, Zidane was pleased Bale delivered again.

"It was great to see a player of his importance score a goal ahead of Wednesday," Zidane told a news conference.

"We had to suffer and that's what the players did. We were up against a difficult opponent but I'm happy with the work we did and to pick up the points."

SEVEN CHANGES

Atletico coach Diego Simeone made seven changes to the team that beat Bayern Munich 1-0 on Wednesday to edge closer to the Champions League final, with only keeper Jan Oblak, Jose Gimenez, Gabi and Juanfran keeping their places.

Simeone was serving the first of a three-game touchline ban and watched his side struggle to break down Rayo.

The hosts created only one clear chance before the break, a low shot from Angel Correa that was superbly tipped away by Rayo goalkeeper Juan Carlos.

Atletico's top scorer Griezmann was brought on along with Fernando Torres in the 54th minute and needed less than 60 seconds to have an impact.

The France striker pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the area and, with his next touch, smashed it high into the net past Juan Carlos, his first goal in five games in all competitions.

Torres squandered a chance to seal the win and Rayo nearly punished Atletico, who were relieved to see striker Javi Guerra head over the bar after appearing unmarked in the box.

(Writing by Richard Martin, editing by Ken Ferris and Ian Chadband)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

LA LIGA: Sporting collapse leaves Atletico title bid in tatters

MADRID, Spain -- Sporting Gijon scored twice in the final 11 minutes to deliver a huge blow to Atletico Madrid's La Liga title challenge with a 2-1 win on Saturday.

Antoine Griezmann's stunning first-half free-kick put Atletico in front.

However, Atletico felt the after effects of their efforts in seeing off PSV Eindhoven after extra-time and penalties in the Champions League in midweek as Antonio Sanabria and Carlos Castro turned the game around in the final stages.

Barcelona can now move 11 points clear at the top when they travel to Villarreal on Sunday.

Third-placed Real Madrid can also close the gap on Atletico to a point when they host Sevilla.

"We were always clear that the objective of the club is to be in the top three," said Atletico boss Diego Simeone.

"That is what we are working towards. This defeat goes against any aspiration to be champions."

Simeone named a youthful side with an average age of 23 as he made five changes from the team that started against PSV on Tuesday.

Atletico have often felt they have been prejudiced by the scheduling of their La Liga fixtures around European games this season.

And Simeone hinted at his frustration at having to play at early on Saturday, whilst Barcelona and Real Madrid aren't in action till Sunday.

"I don't like to look for excuses. I'm happy that we are premium, we play at four o'clock and they see us in China," he added ironically.

Griezmann retained his place up front and was once again Atletico's only serious goal threat as he opened the scoring just before the half hour mark.

Sporting had reason to feel hard done by as Pablo Perez looked to have taken the ball before making contact with Saul Niguez on the edge of the area.

And there was no stopping Griezmann's effort from the resulting free-kick as he curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner.

Simeone looked to hold out for the three points as he withdrew his three most attacking players in Griezmann, Angel Correa and Luciano Vietto after the break.

However, for once, Atletico's defensive resilience let them down.

Sanabria fired a warning shot when he struck the post from a free-kick 12 minutes from time.

But presented with a similar opportunity a minute later, the Paraguayan rifled a free-kick through the Atletico wall to leave Jan Oblak unsighted.

Castro missed a glorious chance to make it 2-1 four minutes from time when he smashed Sanabria's unselfish square ball off the bar in front of an open goal.

Of further concern for Atletico was that opportunity came about as Jose Maria Gimenez pulled up with a hamstring injury making him a doubt for the first-leg of their Champions League quarter-final away to Barcelona on April 5.

With Simeone having made all three substitutions, the visitors had to see out the final few minutes with 10 men.

And they couldn't do it as Sanabria again burst down the left and this time his low cross was converted at the far post by the relieved Castro.

Victory brought Sporting to within a point of survival as Granada and Rayo Vallecano stayed just out of the drop zone with a 2-2 draw.

Youssef El Arabi twice put Granada in front, but Pablo Hernandez and Ze Castro replied for the Madrid side.

Levante remain rooted to the bottom, four points off safety, as goalkeeper Diego Marino's unfortunate own goal handed Deportivo la Coruna a 2-1 win - their first in 2016.

Las Palmas continued their march towards safety thanks to Willian Jose's solitary to secure a fourth win in five games, 1-0 away to Real Sociedad.

Malaga moved up to eighth with Ignacio Camacho's late winner in a 1-0 win at Real Betis.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com