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WEEKLY
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Monday, November 23, 2009
MADRID: FC Barcelona retained its unbeaten start to the season but surrendered the leadership of the Primera Liga following a 1-1 draw away to Athletic club Bilbao after a Gonzalo Higuain strike gave Real Madrid all three points at home to struggling Racing Santander on Saturday night.
Dani Alves opened the scoring for Barcelona early in the second half, while Gaizka Toquero leveled for Athletic less than ten minutes later.
Alves got on the end of Xabi’s magnificent through ball seven minutes into the second half to put Barca in the lead. The Brazilian kept his calm and beat Gorka with a low shot that went in at the far post.
Athletic coach Joaquin Caparros reacted quickly by introducing striker Gaizka Toquero and the move paid off just after the hour when Toquero side footed home a pass from Fernando Llorente.
Barcelona brought on French striker Thierry Henry for the closing minutes and Henry was booed by the home fans for his blatant handball against Ireland in last week’s World Cup qualifying match. Henry contributed nothing to the game and there was no further change to the score.
The final score meant that Barcelona slipped to second place for next week’s visit of Real Madrid who top the standings after a 1-0 home win over Racing Santander.
Real Madrid was clearly the better team in the first period, despite the continued absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and the decision to rest French international Lassana Diarra following his two World Cup qualifying matches with France.
Xabi Alonso hit the Racing post after 13 minutes and seven minutes later his former Liverpool teammate Alvaro Arbeloa did the same with a cross that evaded Racing keeper.
A minute later Real Madrid scored. Ezequiel Garay got a touch on Kaka’s cross, but it was Higuain who was on hand to make sure the ball crossed the line.
The second half, however, was a dull affair. Although Real Madrid did appeared to run out of steam, the visitors were not able to pose any serious threats to their defence.
Elsewhere Sevilla remains third after a 2-1 win in Tenerife, while Deportivo la Coruna scored a last minute penalty to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
