Week 19 Scores and Standings

The Blaugrana Ballet made history by thrashing a hapless Deportivo side 5-0. With the win, Barcelona got to the 50-point mark and are keeping the pressure on the peloton behind them in order to keep up. Lio Messi opened the scoring with a brilliant piece of art when he dribbled through the Deportivo and when to his right post, completely fooling Aranzubía. Henry and Eto’o scored on plays that were generated by Dani Alves on the right. The first one was a header that Thierry Henry clipped with his head and placed it perfectly in the back post. The second one came off a rebound from an Alves cross that Seydou Keita headed and Aranzubía saved. Eto’o pouned on the rebound and placed the ball in the back of the net. Henry and Eto’o were able to complete braces in the second half with little in dispute by then.

Although this week they might not stretch their lead like they did in previous week, the pressure is on for the remainder of the season. Barcelona now need to earn 34 points in next 19 matches to regain the league title. The way things are going, their nearest followers would have to earn 47 points in the second half of the semester in order to just tie Barcelona or wait for a total culé calamity.

Bad News For Bottom Three

All three “relegation-bound” teams lost this weekend while seeing their distance between them and the others that are above them become greater. Espanyol saw their distance become five after getting blown out by Málaga 4-0 at La Rosaleda. Albert Luque (remember him) scored for the Boquerones during injury time, but the game was long decided against an Espanyol side that showed very little against the team who is fighting Deportivo for both the surprise team of the season as well as the lone Intertoto spot.

Osasuna had another hearbreaking loss, this time at the hands of Real Madrid. Iranian international Neukonam opened the scoring, but Pérez Burrullonce again showed why Spanish referees are among the worst in the business and became the game’s protagonist in the process.

He did not call two blatant penalties for the Rojillos that might have sealed the deal for the cellar-dwellers. More importantly the team lacked that killer instinct to put the game away. Madrid stormed out in front to win 3-1 to keep pace with Barcelona.

Mallorca showed very little signs of life against a Villarreal side that looked determined to get back into form and get into the fight against the peloton in front of them.

Saturday