Barca pip Villareal, Real draw 2-2 against Osasuna
17 Dec 2013 5:10 AM IST
Madrid, meanwhile, had to fight back from 2-0 down with 10 men to rescue a point in a 2-2 draw at lowly Osasuna, in a game which saw Gareth Bale taken off.
Following on from his first Barca hat-trick in the 6-1 demolition of Celtic in midweek, Neymar made the difference once more as he converted from the spot after Mario Gaspar had blocked Jordi Alba’s cross with his hand. Villarreal were level just three minutes after the interval when Mario Musacchio bulleted home a Manu Trigueros corner. But Neymar had the final word as he smashed into an empty net from Alexis Sanchez’s cut-back 22 minutes from time.
“Apart from the game against Atletico Madrid in the Super Cup, where we won a trophy, this is the game that has given me most satisfaction since I took over,” said Barca boss Gerardo Martino. “We have achieved a level of consistency in the last three games against Cartagena, Celtic and today that is pleasing.
Earlier, Madrid looked set for their third league defeat of the season after two headed goals from Oriol Riera put Osasuna 2-0 ahead inside 39 minutes.
Real’s task became even tougher when Sergio Ramos was sent-off for two bookable offences moments later, but Isco halved the deficit a minute before the break to give Madrid hope.
Following on from his first Barca hat-trick in the 6-1 demolition of Celtic in midweek, Neymar made the difference once more as he converted from the spot after Mario Gaspar had blocked Jordi Alba’s cross with his hand. Villarreal were level just three minutes after the interval when Mario Musacchio bulleted home a Manu Trigueros corner. But Neymar had the final word as he smashed into an empty net from Alexis Sanchez’s cut-back 22 minutes from time.
“Apart from the game against Atletico Madrid in the Super Cup, where we won a trophy, this is the game that has given me most satisfaction since I took over,” said Barca boss Gerardo Martino. “We have achieved a level of consistency in the last three games against Cartagena, Celtic and today that is pleasing.
Earlier, Madrid looked set for their third league defeat of the season after two headed goals from Oriol Riera put Osasuna 2-0 ahead inside 39 minutes.
Real’s task became even tougher when Sergio Ramos was sent-off for two bookable offences moments later, but Isco halved the deficit a minute before the break to give Madrid hope.
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