20.02.2010
Depleted Barca a class apart from Santander
Midfielder Andres Guardado, pictured in January 2010, scored as Deportivo la Coruna beat Spanish league bottom side Xerez 2-1 and move up to fifth in the table on Saturday.
Spanish league leaders Barcelona put their injury concerns to one side as they cruised to a 4-0 win over Racing Santander on Saturday.
The Catalan side had seen their lead at the top reduced to two points following their first league defeat last weekend against Atletico Madrid but they were comfortably in charge from the start against Racing.
Despite missing several key players including Dani Alves, Xavi Hernandez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Barca went ahead after seven minutes through Andres Iniesta who latched onto a loose ball in the penalty area.
Racing went further behind through a tame goal when a Thierry Henry free-kick went straight through their wall, but then minutes later another from almost exactly the same spot was struck perfectly by veteran Mexican international defender Rafa Marquez and went in off the post.
Racing offered few moments of danger on the counter-attack and their newly discovered prodigy Sergio Canales had a quiet game.
There were fewer clear-cut chances in the second half but substitute Thiago Alcantara made Barca's win more emphatic with a deflected goal six minutes from the end.
A couple of goals within the first seven minutes saw Deportivo la Coruna beat Spanish league bottom side Xerez 2-1 and move up to fifth in the table.
The home side made a quick fire start scoring from the penalty spot after just two minutes when Vicente Moreno was punished for holding Diego Colotto.
Mexican Jose Guardado made no mistake to put Deportivo ahead and soon Xerez, in disarray, were further behind.
Ivan Riki latched onto a through ball and kept his composure before shooting past keeper Renan Brito.
Xerez had a mountain to climb but did come back into the game as Deportivo took their foot off the pedal and Mario Bermejo pulled a goal back with a header.
In the second half Deportivo tightened up at the back and Xerez were unable to find an equaliser. In fact it was Deportivo who went closest to scoring again with a long range effort from Juan Rodriguez which came back off the crossbar.
Source: © 2010 AFP - Jose Jordan
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