FCBARCELONA.CAT

08.03.2010 12:02

Barça look to regain top spot

Edgar Fornós

Earlier on in the season, a Barça draw in San Mamés combined with a Real Madrid home win against Racing handed Real first place in week 11 of the league programme. Now, Barça must overcome a similar situation.

Fourteen matches later, the same combination of results has put Real Madrid back on top of the First Division. Barça’s draw away to Almeria plus Real Madrid’s last gasp win at home to Sevilla has given Pellegrini’s team a slight advantage on goal difference though both teams have the same points – 62.

Short and sweet

In the 11th week of the league championship, Barça played away to Athletic Club Bilbao two hours before the kick-off of the match between Real Madrid and Racing in the Bernabeu. An Alves goal gave Barça the lead only for Toquero to equalize a few minutes later. Later that evening, a solitary Higuaín goal gave Real Madrid the three points and the league leadership.

A great reaction

Far from bemoaning their lot, the Barça players rolled up their sleeves and focussed on regaining top spot. Real Madrid came to the Camp Nou the following weekend and a Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal sent Barça back to first place – a position they held until now.