Barcelona frustrated by positive Sevilla
Sunday, March 13, 2011
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FC Barcelona were held to only their third league draw of the season as Sevilla FC rallied from a goal down on a night when Villarreal CF were also frustrated by Real Sporting de Gijón.
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FC Barcelona missed out on the chance to move seven points clear at the top of the Spanish Liga following a 1-1 draw at Sevilla FC.
Josep Guardiola's men took the lead (30) through Bojan Krkić, but the visitors were unable to strike again after the hosts, who brought on Frédéric Kanouté at half-time, were rewarded for their bold tactics with Jesús Navas's equaliser (49). Their third draw of the season leaves the Azulgrana five points clear of second-placed Real Madrid CF.
Villarreal CF missed the chance to close to within a point of third-placed Valencia CF as they were also held to a 1-1 draw by Real Sporting de Gijón. The three points were all but secured after Giuseppe Rossi scored (29) for the fourth match in succession but, in added time, after the dismissal of Rafael Sastre (90), Diego Castro snatched a late equaliser to lift his side three points clear of the relegation zone.
Fifth-placed RCD Espanyol, meanwhile, earned a long-awaited 2-0 success against RC Deportivo La Coruña. The Barcelona-based side, who had lost six of their previous seven Liga matches, stopped the rot with goals by Iván Alonso (62) and Joan Verdú (81).
Elsewhere, bottom-placed Málaga CF completed a 2-0 victory at Real Sociedad de Fútbal, CA Osasuna triumphed 3-1 against Real Racing Club and Levante UD drew 1-1 with RCD Mallorca.
