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| December 24, 2001 | Monday | Shawwal 8, 1422 |
Deportivo back to top, Barca woes continue
MADRID, Dec 23: Deportivo Coruna reclaimed top spot in the Spanish first division with a 2-0 win at home to title rivals Real Betis on Saturday, while Barcelona’s woes continued as they went down 2-0 at city rivals Espanyol.
Deportivo’s efficient victory, which came via goals from Roy Makaay and Sergio Gonzalez, gave them 33 points from 18 matches and left Real Madrid, now third on 31, needing to win away at Real Mallorca on Sunday to go into 2002 as leaders.
Celta Vigo climbed up to second, ahead of Real Madrid on goal difference, as Catanha grabbed the only goal in a 1-0 win at Sevilla. Betis, who also have 31 points, slipped from second to fourth.
Valencia’s 2-1 victory at home to Malaga saw them climb to sixth on 30 points.
Alaves, ahead of Valencia on goal difference, could draw level with Deportivo Coruna if they win at bottom club Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
After 18 games, Barcelona are down in eighth place on 27 points, six behind Deportivo, after their dismal defeat to Espanyol who claimed victory thanks to two Raul Tamudo goals in the second half.
Barcelona looked a strong bet to kick start their title campaign as they made a confident start.
They missed two clear chances to take the lead, though. Geovanni shot weakly when put through on goal by Patrick Kluviert and then the Dutch international fired over after a Marc Overmars run had set him up.
Barcelona paid the price for their slipshod approach when Tamudo gave Espanyol the lead on 58 minutes, albeit thanks to a huge slice of luck.
Frank de Boer slightly underhit a pass back to Roberto Bonano and Tamudo, racing in to challenge, looked as surprised as anyone when the goalkeeper’s clearance struck him and bounced back into the net.
Tamudo knocked in the second goal at the far post on 70 minutes. This time it was more a case of bad marking as he was left unchallenged to head in a corner.
“We controlled the game and had chances but the ball just didn’t go in,” said Barcelona coach Carles Rexach.
“Their first goal changed everything. We’re optimistic, though. With a bit of luck things will change.”
While Barca continue to slip down the table, Real Sociedad look to be on the rise after they turned in easily their best performance of the season to thrash Valladolid 6-0.
Turkish midfielder Tayfun Korkut scored twice but the architect of victory was Russian international Dmitry Khokhlov who was outstanding in his attacking midfield role.
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld hardly had a shot to save on his debut for John Toshack’s side who move up a place to 18th.
SPANISH FIRST DIVISION
Deportivo Coruna 2 Real Betis 0
Espanyol 2 Barcelona 0
Real Sociedad 6 Valladolid 0
Sevilla 0 Celta Vigo 1
Tenerife 1 Las Palmas 3
Valencia 2 Malaga 1
ITALIAN FIRST DIVISION
Brescia 0 Juventus 4
AC Milan 2 Verona 1
Parma 2 Fiorentina 0
Perugia 2 Atalanta 0
Piacenza 2 Inter Milan 3
Torino 1 Venezia 2
Udinese 0 Lecce 1
Played on Saturday:
Chievo Verona 0 AS Roma 3
Lazio 2 Bologna 2
FRENCH FIRST DIVISION
Sochaux 0 Paris St Germain 2
Nantes 1 Troyes 0
En Avant Guingamp 1 Sedan 2
Monaco 3 Stade Rennes 1 —Reuters
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