An own goal from their former player Fernando Navarro earned a stale-looking Barcelona a lucky 1-0 win at home to Real Mallorca that helped them stretch their lead to four points at the top of the Primera Liga.
MADRID: An own goal from their former player Fernando Navarro earned a stale-looking Barcelona a lucky 1-0 win at home to Real Mallorca that helped them stretch their lead to four points at the top of the Primera Liga.
Navarro inadvertently turned the ball into his own net a minute from time when a Javier Saviola shot hit him in the chest after it had rebounded off the post.
Second-placed Sevilla lost ground on the leaders when they went down 2-0 at Valencia who got the better of a high-octane clash at the Mestalla thanks to a double from leading striker David Villa. With eight games left to play, Barca lead the table on 59 points, Sevilla have 55 and Real Madrid, who lost 2-1 at Racing Santander on Saturday, are on 54, one ahead of Valencia.
Without Ronaldinho who is following an individual training programme following a recent illness, Barca gave a ponderous display for much of the game at the Nou Camp as they struggled to break down a well organised Mallorca.
The islanders' tactic of sitting back and playing on the break looked like working to perfection when they were awarded a penalty after Jonas Gutierrez was brought down by keeper Victor Valdes as he raced into the area after half an hour. But Valdes atoned for his error when he saved the Argentine midfielder's poorly taken spot kick and it was Barca who eventually came away with the points. The game at the Mestalla was a far more intense affair, Villa putting Valencia ahead against the run of play with a beautifully crafted goal midway through the first half.
Sevilla had a chance to wipe out the lead when they were awarded a penalty soon after, but Valencia keeper Santiago Canizares produced an outstanding save to turn Enzo Maresca's powerful kick on to the post.
Villa made sure of the win when he converted a controversial penalty early in the second half after he went to ground when he was tackled by Andreas Hinkel who was sent off for his troubles. Fourth-placed Real Zaragoza slipped to their first defeat in eight games with a 1-0 loss at basement side Gimnastic.
They were joined on 50 points by Atletico Madrid who beat relegation-threatened Levante 1-0 at home courtesy of a classy strike from Fernando Torres. At the other end of the table former Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov got off to a winning start as the new boss of Celta Vigo when his side claimed a deserved 1-0 win at home to Galician rivals Deportivo Coruna.
Brazilian striker Fernando Baiano diverted a shot into the net on the hour to earn Celta their first win in seven outings and only their second at their Balaidos stadium this season.
The victory lifted Celta out of the relegation zone where they were replaced by Levante.
Athletic Bilbao centre forward Ismael Urzaiz scored both goals in his side's 2-1 comeback victory at home to Espanyol that kept the Basques clear of the drop zone.
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