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| October 29, 2001 | Monday | Shaba'an 11, 1422 |
Vallecano cut Deportivo’s lead
MADRID, Oct 28: Deportivo Coruna’s lead was cut to one point as they were upset 2-1 by lowly Rayo Vallecano while Barcelona climbed to second with an impressive 3-0 win over Real Betis in the Spanish first division on Saturday.
Second half goals from Bosnian striker Elvir Bolic and Brazilian forward Glaucio gave the battling Madrid-based side a well-deserved win over a below par Depor.
Barcelona’s performance against Betis, with the attacking trio of Rivaldo, who scored twice, Patrick Kluivert and Javier Saviola in brilliant form, is sure to boost their confidence ahead of next week’s duel with Real Madrid.
Real left it late to come from behind to steal their first away win of the season. A point-blank header from Raul two minutes from time helped them grab a barely-deserved 3-2 win at Villarreal.
Despite their defeat, Deportivo stay top on 20 points, one ahead of Barcelona and three in front of fellow Galicians Celta Vigo, who could take the lead if they win against Valladolid on Sunday.
Last season’s champions Real move up to ninth place after their win, but with all their immediate rivals still to play they are likely to slip a few places Sunday.
Midway through the second half, Villarreal looked to be coasting towards their first ever win against the visitors.
Victor had made the most of a poor back pass from Steve McManaman and a rushed clearance from keeper Iker Casillas to pounce and send a measured 20-metre lob into the empty net to give Villarreal the lead on 31 minutes.
Although Real were thrown a lifeline when Luis Figo equalised from the spot following a dubious penalty 18 minutes after the break, Javier Calleja restored the home side’s advantage just two minutes later when he chipped in following fine work from Victor.
But substitute Pedro Munitis kept Real’s hopes alive as he made the most of a fortunate rebound from a Figo free kick to smash home on 83 minutes before Raul latched on to a Santiago Solari cross to notch the winner at the near post just two minutes from time.
Barcelona coach Carles Rexach’s gamble to field a three-man attack paid dividends for the Catalan side.
The three forwards responded by tearing apart an out-of-sorts Betis that were fortunate to concede just three goals.
SATURDAY’S RESULTS:
Barcelona 3 Real Betis 0
Osasuna 4 Real Mallorca 0
Rayo Vallecano 2 Deportivo Coruna 1
Tenerife 0 Real Sociedad 1
Villarreal 2 Real Madrid 3
Italian first division
Juventus 0 Inter Milan 0
AS Roma 2 Lazio 0
French first division
Stade Rennes 1 RC Lens 2
Lille 2 Metz 0
Monaco 2 Olympique Lyon 1
Sochaux 0 Nantes 1
Girondins Bordeaux 2 Sedan 1
Montpellier 2 Troyes 0
Paris St Germain 1 Bastia 0
Lorient 6 En Avant Guingamp 2
Played Friday:
AJ Auxerre 2 Olympique Marseille 0
Dutch first division
SC Heerenveen 1 Graafschap Doetinchem 0
PSV Eindhoven 2 RKC Waalwijk 0
Twente Enschede 0 Vitesse Arnhem 0
AZ Alkmaar 3 Fortuna Sittard 0
English premier league:
Derby County 1 Chelsea 1
Ipswich Town 2 West Ham United 3
—Reuters
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