Soccer

Real Madrid go six clear as Barca stumble

Soccer: Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the season, falling 1-0 at Getafe, to slip further behind La Liga leaders Real…

Sun Nov 27 2011 - 00:00

Soccer:Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the season, falling 1-0 at Getafe, to slip further behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid who thrashed Atletico Madrid 4-1 in the city derby on Saturday night.

European and Spanish champions Barca dominated the match at the Coliseum but could not beat goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya and Juan Valera stunned the visitors with a goal in the 67th minute.

The defender headed in from a corner and then the rest of his team manned the barricades for a desperate siege in the closing minutes.

Lionel Messi led Barca's charge at the other end and was unlucky to have a goal ruled out for offside in the 90th minute.

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The World Player of the Year then hit the post in time added on, and, just before the final whistle, Moya somehow denied Pedro on the line.

“It’s a shame because we are further behind, but we gave our all today,” Spain and Barca striker David Villa told reporters. “Getafe kept it very tight and their keeper was very good.”

Earlier, Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties as Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid side came back from a goal down at the Bernabeu to beat their long-suffering neighbours who had goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois sent off in the 22nd minute.

Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain also scored as Atletico, who had taken the lead through Adrian Lopez, finished with nine men after defender Diego Godin also saw red near the end.

Real’s 13th consecutive win in all competitions put them on 34 points from 13 games and moved them six ahead of Barca, who have to visit the Bernabeu in two weeks time.

Valencia kept pace with the top two, on 27 points in third, with a 2-1 win at promoted Rayo Vallecano.

Brazilian striker Jonas fired them in front from distance in the 21st minute and, after goalkeeper Diego Alves had kept them in the match with a couple of fine saves, Argentine Tino Costa doubled the lead with a rasping drive in the 56th.

Rayo substitute Raul Tamudo pulled a goal back for the hosts, stabbing the ball in from close range after appearing to control it with his arm six minutes from time.