Barcelona’s lead over Real Madrid atop La Liga evaporated on Saturday once they have been held to a 1-1 house draw by means of their native competitors Espanyol, in a bad-tempered conflict through which all sides have been decreased to ten males.
Madrid had taken best spot on Friday with a 2-0 win at Real Valladolid, striking power on Barcelona to reply in opposition to an Espanyol aspect fighting to keep away from relegation.
Barcelona began strongly, with defender Marcos Alonso glancing a header into the web to provide the hosts the lead with seven mins at the clock.
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After a primary part through which Barcelona spurned a number of probabilities, Alonso became from hero to 0 as he gave away a penalty after an inept foul on Joselu, who rolled his spot kick instantly down the center to make it 1-1 within the 73rd minute.
Tempers flared after the equaliser, with Barcelona’s Jordi Alba despatched off after receiving back-to-back yellow playing cards for vociferous protests in opposition to the referee, earlier than Espanyol’s Vinícius Souza was once proven a 2d yellow card for a bad on Robert Lewandowski mins later.
Barcelona stay in first position because of their awesome function distinction, in spite of being stage with Real Madrid on 38 issues from 15 fits, whilst Espanyol transfer as much as sixteenth within the desk.
