La Liga: Ronaldino sent off as Barcelona win
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Leaders Real Madrid edged closer to the Primera Liga title beating Deportivo Coruna 3-1 in the Bernabeu on Saturday. Barcelona remained hot on their heels, overcoming Getafe 1-0 at home thanks to a second minute goal from Ronaldinho. Ronaldinho, however, was sent off before the break leading to a nail-biting finish in the Nou Camp.
Real and Barca stay tied at the top on 72 points, though Fabio Capello's side hold first place due to their superior head-to-head record. Los Angeles Galaxy-bound David Beckham helped set up Sergio Ramos's controversial first-half opener for Real, and crossed for Raul to head the second soon after Depor had levelled in the 55th minute.
Ruud van Nistelrooy wrapped up the win to keep Real on course for their first major title in four years, with two matches left to play. Earlier, Valencia's title challenge was derailed when they were beaten 3-2 at home by local rivals Villarreal to stay fourth on 65.
Third-placed Sevilla (67) are at home to fifth-placed Real Zaragoza on Sunday. Real were in complete control against Deportivo but took the lead in controversial circumstances in the 28th minute. A hustling Beckham was at the centre of much of Real's forward play when he cut in from the left and crossed towards former Manchester United team mate Van Nistelrooy, who nodded the ball down with the help of his arm.
As the Depor players appealed for handball, Ramos pounced to hammer the ball into the net from close range. After the break, Beckham thumped a free kick against the post but Depor levelled in the 55th with a rare attack when Julian de Guzman crossed low and Capdevila steered in at the near post.
Real restored their lead three minutes later when Beckham was given time on the right to whip in a trademark cross which Raul headed in. In the 75th, Van Nistelrooy took his tally for the season to 23 and settled home nerves when a loose ball broke to him in the area as Raul tussled with a defender.
It was Beckham's penultimate game in the Bernabeu and he was the last player to leave the pitch at the end after throwing his shirt into the stands as the sell-out crowd chanted his name. -
come on real madrid! way to go! ruud and beckham are REAL hot now....
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beckham is so gd!!!
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aww valencia lost steam
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Barca!
Cheers.
CK -
ya..i really hope they will win.... not that i am supporting real madrid.. but.. i think david and ruud deserve something there...Originally posted by hiphop2009:come on real madrid! way to go! ruud and beckham are REAL hot now....