BARCELONA: Barcelona’s lead over Real Madrid atop the La Liga standings evaporated on Saturday after they were held to a 1-1 home draw by local rivals Espanyol in a bad-tempered clash in which both sides were reduced to 10 men.

Xavi’s side threw away the two point advantage they had earned before the World Cup break, with Joselu’s penalty pegging Barca back after Marcos Alonso’s opener.

The teams were at loggerheads before a ball as kicked because Barcelona started Robert Lewandowski, who had been banned before a late court ruling allowed him to play.

The forward, due to miss three league matches, was only allowed to play thanks to a controversial decision announced on Friday, suspending his punishment.

It greatly angered Espanyol, whose president and directors boycotted the match, while Barca coach Xavi admitted his team had prepared all week expecting to be without the division’s top goalscorer.

The Spanish football federation said in a statement on Saturday they could not override the court’s decision.

Barca started strongly, with defender Alonso glancing a header into the net to give the hosts the lead with seven minutes on the clock.

After a first half in which Barca spurned several chan­ces, Alonso turned from hero to zero as he gave away a penalty following a clumsy foul on Joselu, who rolled his spot kick straight down the middle to make it 1-1 in the 73rd minute.

Tempers flared after the equaliser, with Barcelona’s Jordi Alba being sent off after receiving back-to-back yellow cards for vociferous protests against the referee, before Espanyol’s Vinicius Souza was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Lewandowski minutes later.

Barcelona remain on top of the standings due to their superior goal difference, despite being level with rivals Real on 38 points from 15 matches, while Espanyol move up to 16th.

BENZEMA BURIES WORLD CUP WOE

On Friday night, Karim Benzema buried his World Cup nightmare with two late goals as Real had defeated Valladolid 2-0 to move a point clear of Barcelona.

Ballon d’Or winner Benzema returned to the starting lineup after missing the World Cup for France, having suffered a thigh injury the day before the start, and had a big impact.

Real were awarded a penalty in the 83rd minute for handball by Javi Sanchez. The decision sent the home team into a frenzy and Leon was sent off for dissent. Benzema converted with ease.

The unmarked Benzema then doubled Real’s lead in the 89th with a well-placed shot from inside the box after an assist from substitute Eduardo Camavinga.

There was a minute’s silence before kick-off for Brazilian great Pele, who died on Thursday aged 82, with the country’s former striker Ronaldo paying his respects in the stands.

Both teams had several chances in the first half but superb goalkeeping from Valladolid’s Jordi Masip and Real’s Thibaut Courtois kept the game goalless at the break.

“It was a great match for Courtois and Benzema, who scored again,” said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti. “We ended an unforgettable year very well. We have to go little by little to put all the players in a good condition.”

Sevilla dug deep to claim a point in a 1-1 relegation scrap at Celta Vigo. They came from a goal down with Kike Salas scoring the leveller on 54 minutes after they fell behind to a first-half strike from Gabri Veiga.

Sevilla remain third bottom in the table on 12 points with Celta two places better off on 13.

Elsewhere on Friday, Almeria drew 1-1 with Cadiz while Borja Mayoral scored twice as Getafe beat Mallorca 2-0.

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2023