Madrid surge to Liga summit
Saturday, October 16, 2010
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Real Madrid CF are top of the league in Spain, with José Mourinho's side winning 4-1 at Málaga CF after a 2-1 defeat at FC Barcelona handed Valencia CF their first loss of the season.
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A Cristiano Ronald-inspired Real Madrid CF seized top spot in Spain, winning 4-1 at Málaga CF after a sublime period of play at the start of the second half had given FC Barcelona a 2-1 comeback victory against Valencia CF.
Ronaldo set up Gonzalo Higuaín for Madrid's opener and then tapped home a second from Mesut Özil's cut-back just before the break. The Portuguese international stepped up to tuck away a penalty (50) after a foul on Özil, and while Kris Stadsgaard pulled one back for Málaga, Ronaldo set up Higuaín (65) for a fourth. José Mourinho's side are now a point clear of Barcelona and Valencia at the top of the standings.
Pablo Hernández had put Valencia ahead at Camp Nou on 38 minutes with a deflected shot from Jérémy Mathieu's cross and soon after forced Victor Valdés into a fine save. However, less than two minutes into the second half Barcelona were level, Andrés Iniesta running at the Valencia defence and playing a one-two with Xavi Hernández before slipping the ball past César Sánchez. The Valencia goalkeeper was beaten again on 63 minutes when Carles Puyol headed in Xavi's cross and Sánchez did excellently to keep the score down as his side lost in the league for the first time this season.
Club Atlético de Madrid are three points behind Barcelona and Valencia following their 2-0 defeat of Getafe CF. There are six games on Sunday and Villarreal CF will go into first place if they win at Hercules CF on Monday night.
