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La Liga: Barca lose at home; Real on top

November 02, 2014 12:32 IST

Neymar of FC Barcelona

Neymar of FC Barcelona reacts after missing a chance to score during the La Liga match against Celta de Vigo at Camp Nou. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images

Barcelona followed up last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Real Madrid with another reverse on Saturday, squandering a host of chances to lose 1-0 at home to Celta Vigo and handing the lead in La Liga to their arch rivals.

Barca forward Neymar hit the crossbar twice and team mate Lionel Messi did likewise once before hesitation in the defence let in Celta forward Joaquin Larrivey to score 10 minutes after halftime at the Nou Camp.

As the home side strove in vain for an equaliser, Messi, who remains one goal short of La Liga's scoring record of 251, sent a free kick against the corner of the goal frame in the 80th minute.

Suarez denied

Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona

Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona protests next to Sergio of Celta de Vigo during the La Liga match. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images

Luis Suarez, making his home debut, was then denied by a brilliant save from Sergio, one of a string of superb stops by the inspired Celta goalkeeper.

Barca's second straight defeat is another blow for new coach Luis Enrique, who was in charge at Celta last season, and means Real take over at the top on 24 points from 10 matches thanks to a 4-0 win at Granada earlier on Saturday.

‘We played a bad match’

Neymar of FC Barcelona

Neymar of FC Barcelona vies for the ball. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images

"I think we played a bad match and we weren't comfortable," Barca centre back Javier Mascherano told Canal Plus television.

"Beyond creating chances we were unable to play our game and that is worrying," added the Argentine international.

With Wednesday's trip to Ajax Amsterdam in the Champions League looming, Barca were looking for a morale-boosting win after the setback at Real.

"We showed a lot of mental strength to survive at the back and have enough oxygen to score the goal," said Celta coach Eduardo Berizzo.

"We have to be fair and admit that if Barca had scored first the outcome would have been very different," added the Argentine.

Rodriguez struck twice

James Rodriguez

James Rodriguez of Real Madrid CF celebrates scoring. Photograph: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

James Rodriguez struck twice for the European champions, including a superb volley, and the prolific Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 17th goal in nine La Liga appearances this season.

Ronaldo set Real on their way in the second minute at Granada's Nuevo Los Carmenes stadium when he clipped home a Karim Benzema centre.

Rodriguez made it 2-0 for the European champions in the 31st minute when he crashed a superb, dipping volley into the top corner before Ronaldo's clever backheel sent Benzema clear for a third in the 53rd.

‘If you fight everything comes off well’

Cristiano Ronaldo, right, of Real Madrid CF

Cristiano Ronaldo, right, of Real Madrid CF heels the ball to his teammate Karim Benzema. Photograph: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Granada fluffed their few chances before Rodriguez followed up a scuffed Ronaldo effort to score the fourth with four minutes to go as Real eased to an 11th win in a row in all competitions.

"We played with focus and with a lot of work and sacrifice," said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti.

"If you fight everything comes off well," added the Italian whose side host Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday.

"We have to keep going in the same way to maintain our good run. We are playing well and winning."

Atletico Madrid are second

Antoine Griezmann of Club Atletico de Madrid

Antoine Griezmann of Club Atletico de Madrid celebrates after scoring his team's opening goal during the La Liga match against Cordoba CF. Photograph: Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Champions Atletico Madrid, 4-2 winners at home to Cordoba, are second on 23 points.

The visitors surprised Atletico nine minutes into the second half when Nabil Ghilas headed in at a corner before Griezmann made it 2-1 with another header four minutes later.

Mario Mandzukic nodded Atletico's third in the 62nd minute before substitute Raul Garcia deflected Koke's cross into the net nine minutes from time. Ghilas grabbed Cordoba's second goal with three minutes left after some poor defending.

Sevilla can overtake Real and Atletico with victory at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday while Celta are sixth on 19 points.

It was not their night, however, as chance after chance went begging through a combination of poor shooting and bad luck and Larrivey clinically converted one of Celta's few openings.

Source: REUTERS
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