but not a bad bet mate. barça have suffered in each game after internationals so far this season.

Talking of bets...



I made one with myself that you'd respond to my post and mention Madrid, thanks for not letting me down

don't you follow atleti? not often you find a rojiblanco with a soft spot for los merengues

No soft spot, I just find it amusing the way Barcelona sympathisers can't help but bang on about them, however well their own side are doing.

my own side (wigan) aren't doing very well at all. if we lose against cas then we need to have a good long look at ourselves.
i wouldn't say i'm a barcelona sympathiser, i just like watching good football.
and anyway, as most folk in spain have either madrid or barça as their second team, if i had to choose one it would be barça every time. always go for the underdog

congratulations to raul. outstanding achievement

The week in full:

Atletico Madrid 1 - 1 Getafe C.F
Deportivo La Coruna 0 - 0 Osasuna
Espanyol 0 - 2 Sevilla
Sporting de Gijón 0 - 4 Real Madrid
Athletic Bilbao 1 - 1 Recreativo Huelva
Almeria 3 - 2 Valladolid
C.D Numancia 0 - 1 Mallorca
Racing Santander 1 - 1 Villarreal
Real Betis Balompié 2 - 2 Barcelona
Valencia 1 - 1 Málaga

Real Madrid breezed past Sporting Gijon to close the gap at the top to a mere 10 points (snigger) and Raul also scored twice to break Di Stefano's league record for Real Madrid, a great achievement for the number seven. Sporting were outclassed, offering little resistance as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar also recorded his first Merengues goal.

The gap is closed because on Saturday Barcelona recorded something of a surprise draw at Betis. Paco Chaparro's men, buoyed by their derby victory last week, raced into a two goal lead through Melli and ex-Liverpool winger Mark Gonzalez. Samuel Eto'o scored twice, including from the spot, two level things up but it showed that Barcelona are not infallible, especially when Messi and Henry don't start. Both sides had chances to win but Ricardo was in excellent form between the sticks for Betis and a draw was the least they deserved.

Sevilla left it late to record an important win at Espanyol which alleviates some of the pressure on Manolo Jiminez. Two goals in the last ten minutes from Kanoute sealed it but Espanyol had hatfuls of chances with luis Garcia the main offender. He's not scored since October and Los Pericos are winless in 14 and rock bottom, 3 points adrift. Valencia and Malaga played out a draw, David Villa gave the home side the lead before Raul Albiol put through his own net to equalise. Villarreal and Racing also drew, Zigic gave the verdiblancos the lead only for Santi Cazorla to equalise just before half time.

Atletico Madrid were foiled at home to Getafe, Diego Forlan had given Atletico the lead (his third in two) only for Albin to level with two minutes to go. Its a result that means Valencia and Villarreal are level on points in 4th and 5th, Atletico and Malaga two points behind and Sevilla on 41 points in 3rd.

I did say Hugo Sanchez can't keep relying on Uche and Negredo to bail his side out but it seems he can after all. Valladolid raced into a two goal lead in Andalucia only for Crusat, Uche and, yes, Negredo to capture three points that means Almeria jump to 13th. Mallorca's win in Numancia takes them to third bottom level with Osasuna with Recreativo on 25.

do you watch every game? how do you get all your info? im impressed!

did you see cazorla's goal? what a comeback by almeria with only half a team pretty sure uche was one of those sent off.
have to say espanyol were hard done by. one of sevilla's goals should have been disallowed and luis garcia needs to spend the week at shooting practice.
zigic scored again, 5 in 6 for 'el techo' now.
in the battle of the bottom mallorca won at numancia, who look in desperate trouble now.
the catalan derby next week... but i'll miss it as i'm going away with the girlfriend for carnaval.

Negredo's going to be a hot transfer property this summer and Almeria will do extremely well to hold on to him. If he's anything like other ex-Real Madrid stars he's got a buyback clause and the Real hierachy should definitely take a look at signing him.

if they do they'll probably leave him to fade in the reserves as they've done with quite a few in the past. hope he either stays with almeria or moves to a bigger club where he'll play every week.