Madrid keep Barca waiting

Source:Reuters-Global Times Published: 2013-5-9 22:13:01

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (No.7) passes against Malaga's Francisco Portillo on Wednesday. Photo: IC
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (No.7) passes against Malaga's Francisco Portillo on Wednesday. Photo: IC

Real Madrid made sure Barcelona will have to wait at least until Sunday to wrap up a 22nd La Liga title when Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 200th goal for the club in a 6-2 win at home to nine-man Malaga on Wednesday.

Barca need two more points to wrest the league crown back from their arch-rivals and secure a fourth title in five years and a win at third-placed Atletico Madrid on Sunday would be enough for Tito Vilanova's side.

Barca have 88 points from 34 of 38 matches, with Real in second on 80 from 35.

Center back Raul Albiol nodded Real in front from a corner in the third minute before Roque Santa Cruz, who scored in Malaga's 3-2 home win against Real in December, leveled after a quarter of an hour.

The match turned in the 21st minute when Malaga defender Sergio Sanchez was shown a straight red card for bringing Ronaldo down in the area.

Although the Portuguese had his spot kick saved by Willy Caballero, who injured his ankle in the process and had to be replaced by Carlos Kameni, Ronaldo netted with an indirect free kick close to goal in the 26th minute.

It was his 200th goal on his 197th appearance for Real since joining from Manchester United in 2009 and his 34th in La Liga this season.

Mesut Ozil finished off a swift breakaway to make it 3-1 in the 34th minute, Vitorino Antunes pulled a goal back for Malaga 2 minutes later and Ronaldo set up Karim Benzema to make it 4-2 on the stroke of halftime.

The second half was much less eventful until Luka Modric struck a long-range shot in off a post in the 63rd minute.

Malaga center back Martin Demichelis was shown a second yellow card for a 73rd-minute foul on Ronaldo and sent off and Ozil then went over awkwardly with around 10 minutes left and appeared to injure his right knee.

The German international was carried off on a stretcher for treatment, reducing Real to 10 men as they had already made their three substitutions.

The stadium was emptying when substitute Angel di Maria completed the rout in added time with a curling shot into the corner from the edge of the area.

Reuters - Global Times



Posted in: Soccer

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