Tenerife 0 - 5 BarcelonaWhen you are as good as Barcelona are, and when you've won everything on offer in the last 12 months, it's inevitable that after a couple of games that failed to yield a win, people start announcing the end of the Barca dynasty. Absolute rubbish. The phrase 'form is temporary, class is permanent' has never rung truer, as Leo Messi weaved his magic to score two goals before half time, after Barca had been under the cosh for the opening 35 mins. The finest footballer on the planet then completed his hattrick in the 75th minute, and Tenerife were left to rue not turning their opening dominance into goals. Guardiola also had Victor Valdes to thank for some timely interventions whilst Barcas backline endured a shaky start. Real Madrid had laid down the gauntlet earlier on in the afternoon; Barcelona answered in style.
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Xerez 1 - 3 Valencia
(0-1) 10' Mata, (1-1) 25' Calvo, (1-2) 33' Silva, (1-3) 69' MarchenaXerez ran their hearts out, but in the end the class within Valencias ranks shone through, and even though David Villa didnt get on the scoresheet for the third consecutive match, Mata, Silva and Marchena lead 'Los Che' to a 1-3 win. The game was played out in horrible conditions, but credit to both sets of players for providing an entertaining match which was run from the middle by the incredibly talented Eva Banega. Alongside the Argentinian, Silva and Mata looked busy, whilst David Villa ran and ran but never really got a solid chance infront of goal. For Xerez they can be proud with a stunning breakaway goal which threatened to put Valencia on the ropes, but Unai Emerys team simply had too much for La Ligas bottom club. 'Chori' Dominguez came on for his debut and whilst he didnt have time to make an impression on the match he certainly showed some classy touches. It say it all that Emery spent the whole match on the touchline in the rain, urging his team on, whilst 'Cuco' Ziganda decided to hide away in the dugout. Time is running out for the Xerez manager.
Real Madrid 2 - 0 Mallorca
(1-0) 7' Higuaín, (2-0) 49' Granero
Real Madrid didnt pass up the chance to put a little bit of pressure on Barca before their match with Tenerife as they brushed aside a Mallorca team that came into the match hoping to continue their rich vein of form. As usual it was Higuaín that opened the scoring with a cooly taken curled effort early on. Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo both had chances to add to Madrids lead as the snow fell upon the Bernabeu, but they had to wait until the 49th minute before they could kill the game off with a Granero volley from Higuaíns cross. Real Madrid certainly played at a higher tempo and with more verve than in recent weeks, whereas Mallorca were never in the match as soon as they went 2-0 down. One interesting point was that both Kaká and Van der Vaart started the match, which shows Pelligrini has been impressed with the Dutchmans performances whilst filling in for the Brazilian and is prepared to accommodate both in the starting XI. Karim Benzema started on the bench, and although he got twenty minutes when the match had already been put to bed, you have to wonder if the coach has already lost patience with the young summer signing.
Sporting Gijon 1 - 0 Getafe
(1-0) 38' Diego Castro
Getafe saw their push for the UEFA positions halted as Sporting Gijon capitalised on a dominant first-half performance to score 7 mins before the break, and successfully held on for the three points as Getafe grew into the match in the second half. Sporting were indebted to the defensive work of Rivera who regularly broke up Getafes attacks, whilst keeper Juan Pablo also saved his side on a number of occasions. For Míchel, he will be dissapointed not only in the perfomance of his much-criticised son, Adrián, but also that his side never got their playmakers Casquero or Pedro Leon into the match. Sporting are sitting comfortably around mid-table, with their home form much to thank, and they will be doubly pleased with todays events as they saw Croatian striker Mate Bilic make his long-awaited comeback from injury. So far so good for Manuel Preciado and his side.
Espanyol 2 - 1 Real Zaragoza
(1-0) 13' Verdu, (1-1) 39' Arizmendi, (2-1) 71 Marqués
Real Zaragoza find themselves in deep trouble as they lost out in a clash between two sides desparate for points in order to climb out of the lower reaches of La Liga. Goalkeeper Juan Carrizo was to blame for both Espanyol goals, the first a dreadful clearance which fell straight to Verdu who rolled into an empty net, and the second when he pucnched a shot right into the path of sub Marqués. Whilst the Zaragoza defence was hardly reassuring, Real Zaragoza manager Jose Aurelio Gay will be more concerned with his sides lack of fight in the face of a second-half Espanyol onslaught. They need to be careful they dont get cut off from the teams above them because if they don't get points at La Romareda, their atrocious away form will put pay to their stay in the top flight.
Deportivo La Coruña 1 - 0 Osasuna
(1-0) 49' Juan Rodriguez
Deportivo jumped up into the Champions League spots with a scrappy 1-0 win over Osasuna. It wasnt a vintage performance from the Galicians, but Lotina will be more than pleased with the three points as they took advantage of slips from Sevilla and Mallorca. Juan Rodriguez got the goal just after the break with a beautifully crafted goal, as he took down a crossed and swivelled to wrong foot the keeper with a clinical finish. Aranda had a chance to equalise soon after for Osasuna but slipped at a critical moment and the chance went begging, and their hopes completely vanised when Nekounam saw red for a cynical trip on Guardado when he was clean through on goal. Camachos team are getting dragged into a 6-way dogfight for the final two relegation positions, not for the first time in recent years.
Málaga 1 - 1 Athletic Bilbao
(1-0) 47' Weligton, (1-1) 79' Llorente (p)
You wouldnt think it looking at the table but Málaga are unbeaten in nine. But it's their failure to turn winning situations into three points that has seen them rooted towards the bottom of La Liga. Today was another prime example as Weligton headed them into the lead, only for them to sit back on the lead, happy to soak up the Bilbao pressure and wait for the final whistle. And as usual it ended with an equaliser as Ivan Gonzalez needlessly gave away a penalty on Llorente who picked himself up to shoot in off the despairing hands of Munúa. Two more points recklessly given away.