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Barcelona are through to the Copa Del Rey final where they will play Athletic Bilbao after a 2-0 win over Valencia at the Camp Nou.
Goals by Cesc Fabregas and a late strike by midfield maestro Xavi helped seal a 2-0 win (3-1 on aggregate) for the Spanish champions.
Pep Guardiola’s men will now face Athletic Bilbao in what will be a repeat of the 2009 final where Barcelona came from behind to win 4-1 and bag a record 25th Copa Del Rey.
Real Madrid kept their 7 point lead ahead at the top of La Liga after a 1-0 win over Getafe as Barcelona beat Real Sociedad 2-1.
Sergio Ramos’ goal proved decisive at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez whilst at the Camp Nou, a youthful Barcelona side held out for a well deserved 2-1 win over Real Sociedad.
Juventus kept up their Serie A title push with a hard fought 2-1 win over title challengers Udinese at the Juventus Arena thanks to a brace by Alessandro Matri.
Alessandro Matri was the man of the hour and having given the hosts a 42nd minute lead, the in-form striker then responded by shooting Antonio Conte’s men back in front after Antonio Floro Flores had temporarily levelled things up for Udinese.
A delighted Antonio Conte could not contain his glee as his side – after 20 matches – still remain unbeaten. In fact, they are the only unbeaten side in any domestic league on the continent.
Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of La Liga to seven points after a 3-1 win over Real Zaragoza whilst Barcelona were held to a 0-0 draw with Villarreal
Madrid’s win meant that champions Barcelona had to also win at Villarreal to keep the pressure up but the visitors missed a host of chances before the match ended 0-0 meaning that Pep Guardiola’s men now trail Real Madrid by 7 points albeit with 18 matches left to play.
Was this the unofficial day when the 2011/2012 La Liga crown was decided??? It certainly looks like it.
Barcelona advanced to the semi-finals of the Copa Del Rey after a 4-3 aggregate win (2-2 draw on the night) over Real Madrid with goals by Pedro and Dani Alves proving decisive.
In an absolute humdinger of a match, it was Madrid, down 2-1 from the first leg, who got off to the better start but were somewhat unlucky to find themselves 2-0 at the break when Pedro and Dani Alves put Barcelona firmly in the driving seat.
Madrid then rallied themselves after the break and pulled a goal back when Cristiano Ronaldo rounded Pinto to reduce the arrears before Karim Benzema capitalized on a Barca mistake to level things up.
The hosts were left with a nervy finish but hung on nevertheless to grab a 2-2 draw and a 4-3 win on aggregate and progress to the semi-finals.
Alessandro Del Piero rolled back the years to net an incredible goal as Juventus overcame Roma 3-0 in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals and winning the In The Stands Goal of The Week to boot!
The Serie A leaders were already 1-0 up before Del Piero received the ball 30-yards away from goal, made a mazy dribble before cutting inside two Roma players and curling home a stupendous effort into the top corner.
Out came the famous tongue, then came the gushes of awe and finally came the aesthetic appreciation that the Italian legend still, despite his years (37), has the quality to shine.
Real Madrid came from behind to beat Athletic Bilbao 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu to preserve their five point lead over Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
Things looked worrying when Fernando Llorente volleyed Athletic Bilbao ahead in the 13th minute, but the reaction from the hosts was the stuff of potential champions.
Marcelo leveled things up 12 minutes later before two Cristiano Ronaldo penalties put Madrid firmly in control.
Substitute Callejon then added a fourth late on to secure the win as Jose Mourinho’s men stay five points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
A Lionel Messi hat-trick helped Barcelona record a fine 4-1 win over Malaga to keep the pressure on leaders Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.
A fine Lionel Messi hat-trick and a goal by Alexis Sanchez sealed the 4-1 win at the Estadio La Rosaleda as the Spanish and European champions moved up to 44 points after 19 matches.
Juventus moved four points clear at the top of Serie A after a 2-0 win over Atalanta thanks to goals by Stephan Lichtsteiner and Emanuele Giaccherini.
The visitors continued their Serie A title push with a well deserved win although they had to wait until the 53rd minute to open the scoring when Stephan Lichtsteiner headed in from close range after a fabulous pass from Andrea Pirlo.
Emanuele Giaccherini then volleyed home the second nine minutes from time. The win kept Antonio Conte’s men top of Serie A on 41 points after 19 games – fur ahead of AC Milan who play on Sunday.
Goals by Carles Puyol and Eric Abidal gave Barcelona a 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Copa Del Rey quarter-final clash.
The Spanish and European champions came from a goal down to win seal a fine 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu leaving Pep Guardiola’s men in prime position to qualify for the semi-finals with the second leg at the Camp Nou still to come.
Cristiano Ronaldo had fired hosts Real Madrid into an 11th minute lead with a rasping left-footed drive which squirmed beneath Barca goalkeeper Pinto.
Nevertheless, an unperturbed Barcelona side rallied back brilliantly in the second half and equalized courtesy of Carles Puyol’s thumping header.
The delightful Lionel Messi then chipped Eric Abidal through on goal in the 77th minute and the Frenchman made no mistake as he fired the winner beyond Casillas and into the Madrid net.
Barcelona survived a scare to beat Real Betis 4-2 at the Camp Nou and keep in touch with leaders Real Madrid with goals by Alexis Sanchez and a brace by Lionel Messi proving decisive.
The Spanish and European champions got off to a rip-roaring start and were 2-0 up by the 15th minute through Xavi and Messi before being pegged back by a super-determined Betis side.
When Roque Santa Cruz grabbed a 52nd minute equaliser the prospect of falling seven points behind Real Madrid looked likely but Alexis Sanchez’s right foot shot restored the lead before a Lionel Messi penalty sealed a 4-2 win.
Barca thus remain second in La Liga on 41 points – five behind leaders Real Madrid.
Real Madrid moved 8 points clear of Barcelona after a goals by Gonzalo Higuain and a late winner from Callejon helped overcome Real Mallorca 2-1 at the Iberostar Estadi.
In what proved to be their toughest match in weeks, La Liga leaders Real Madrid fell behind courtesy of Tomer Hemed’s diving header five minutes before the break.
Hoping to settle on the result, Mallorca dug in deep during the second half but were pegged back thanks to Gonzalo Higuain’s left foot finish before Callejon fired in an 85th minute winner.
The win leaves Jose Mourinho’s men eight points clear of second place Barcelona having paid one game more. The pair are due to meet in the 1st leg of the Copa Del Rey on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu.
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