Sunday, December 19, 2010

Football: Madrid seal scrappy Sevilla win

Football: Madrid seal scrappy Sevilla win
Dec
20

Real Madrid`s Argentinian midfielder Angel di Maria celebrates after scoring against Sevilla in La Liga.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Real Madrid keep pressing on rivals Barcelona with 1-0 win over Sevilla

  • Atletico Madrid recover from Europa League exit with 3-0 win over Malaga
  • In Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen miss opportunity to close gap on league leaders Dortmund
  • Mario Gomez scores a hat-trick as Bayern Munich thrash Stuttgart 5-3

(CNN) - Real Madrid kept up the insistence on La Liga rivals Barcelona on Sunday with a 1-0 win over Sevilla at the Bernabeu.

A 77th minute strike by Angel Di Maria strike was adequate to see Jose Mourinho`s side secure three points.

The win came despite playing the final draw of the back with ten men, after Ricardo Calvalho was shown his second yellow card for a dispute on Alvaro Negredo.

The Portuguese international was one of 12 players to be cautioned during an ill-tempered match, which also saw Sevilla defender Dabo sent off deep in the game.

Sevilla remain in 11th place, while Madrid remain right on the heels of Barcelona in second - two points behind as La Liga takes its winter break.

Atletico Madrid put the disappointment of this week`s Europa League exit behind them as they cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win over Malaga to go up to sixth in La Liga.

Portuguese midfielder Tiago opened the scoring after 22 minutes and bagged a moment in the 69th minute after Dominguez had made it 2-0 three minutes earlier.

Malaga have now lost 11 league games this season and remain third from behind in the table.

The victory moves Atletico above Getafe on goal difference, who came from two goals down to beat Almeria 3-2 at the Estadio Mediterraneo.

Kalu Uche opened the scoring after 7 minutes and Leonardo Ulloa doubled the national side`s lead in the 24th minute.

Manu pulled a goal back for Getafe five transactions late and 3 minutes into the 2nd half Venezuelan striker Miku bundled home an equalizer.

Derek Boateng completed the return in the 71st minute to extend Michel`s men`s unbeaten run to six matches.

Osasuna and bottom-of-the-table Real Zaragoza played out a 0-0 draw.

Meanwhile in Germany`s Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen missed the opportunity to shut the gap on league leaders Borussia Dortmund to 8 points as they were held to a 2-2 draw against Freiburg.

Leaders Dortmund miss out on Bundesliga record

The hosts took the top after 16 minutes when Arturo Vidal converted a punishment to make his eighth goal of the season.

But a determined Freiburg fought back with goals from Jan Rosenthal after 24 minutes and Stefan Reisinger midway through the 2nd half.

But the visitors` lead didn`t live long as substitute Patrick Helmes finished calmly after Stefan Kiessling set up the scoring opportunity in the 75th minute.

Mario Gomez scored his second hat-trick of the Bundesliga season as Bayern Munich hammered Stuttgart 5-3 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.

Gomez opened the scoring after 31 minutes and Thomas Muller doubled the top five transactions later.

Stuttgart`s defensive frailties were further exposed when Franck Ribery made it 3-0 with a superb individual goal a moment before half-time.

Stuttgart tried to ride a counter with substitute Martin Harnik pulling a goal back five minutes later the break.

But any hopes of a lasting revival were immediately snuffed out by Gomez who struck twice in two minutes to discharge his hat-trick.

Harnik claimed his second goal on the hour mark, and Christian Gentner made the scoreline slightly more good for Stuttgart with a 70th minute strike.

Bayern now lie fifth in the table heading into the winter break. Stuttgart remain in pain in 17th place with just 12 points.

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