Barça blunted by Betis
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Article summary
FC Barcelona fell to their first league defeat of the season as the gap at the top was cut to four points.
Article body
By Andy Hall
FC Barcelona succumbed to their first Primera División defeat of the season at Real Betis Balompié to allow Real Madrid CF to close the gap at the top of the table to four points after the capital club eased to a comprehensive 6-1 win against Albacete Balompié at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Record eluded
Barcelona went into the game requiring victory to record their best ever start to the season but after Ronaldinho had headed two efforts straight at Antonio Doblas, Edu gave the visitors a surprise lead on 48 minutes with an incisive finish from Joaquín Sánchez's far-post cross. Ricardo Oliviera doubled the lead 20 minutes later and although Barça pulled a goal back almost immediately when Gerard López headed in Deco’s lofted cross, an equaliser proved elusive in a frenetic finale.
Betis boost
The result against his former club is a timely boost for Betis coach Llorenç Serra Ferrer, whose side move into eleventh. It was also a positive result for Madrid, who improved their championship credentials with that emphatic win against Albacete. Ronaldo broke the deadlock after just two minutes when he headed in Zinedine Zidane's corner and although Albacete levelled through Francisco Rodríguez on the quarter hour, the home team soon regained their stride.
Owen goal
Mariano García Remón’s side restored the lead with a lovely low drive from Zidane, who also played a hand in Madrid's third, crossing for Raúl González to head into the top corner. Walter Samuel made it four after heading in David Beckham's free-kick just after the interval and substitute Michael Owen then continued his goalscoring run after being put through by Ronaldo with a minute to go. There was still enough time for the Brazilian to grab his second of the evening to cap off a dominant display.
Altético held
Club Atlético de Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw at RCD Mallorca and remain in eighth position while the islanders return to the foot of the table. New coach Héctor Cúper appeared to be heading for his first win after Juan Arango’s free-kick on 27 minutes, before Gonzalo Colsa salvaged a point seven minutes from full time.
