Real, Barca still neck and neck
Both score big wins against lowerplaced opponents and remain tied on points at top of La Liga standings
Real Madrid thrashed Deportivo La Coruna 6-2 to stay level with Barcelona at the top of La Liga on Wednesday after the Catalans crushed Osasuna 7-1, condemning the minnows to relegation. Lionel Messi, Andre Gomes and Paco Alcacer scored twice each and Javier Mascherano netted his first goal for the club from the penalty spot as Barcelona built on Sunday’s Clasico victory.
Real, though, showed they would not be easily toppled.
Zinedine Zidane made nine changes for the trip to the Riazor but Madrid’s reserves still made light work of Depor, with Isco running the show and finding the net along with James Rodriguez, who hit a brace, Alvaro Morata, Lucas Vazquez and substitute Casemiro.
Madrid have 78 points from 33 games, while Barcelona have the same tally from one game more.
Osasuna, rooted in 20th place, were relegated after 17th-placed Leganes beat Las Palmas 3-0 to move 12 points clear of the bottom club, an insurmountable total with four games to go because of their inferior head-to-head record.
“We had to win. We have suffered a lot since January. We’ve lacked both points and luck, and when that’s the case it’s hard to turn things around,” said Osasuna coach Petar Vasiljevic.
Messi opened the scoring with a mazy dribble capped with a neat chip over goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu before Gomes volleyed home Ivan Rakitic’s cross to double the lead.
Roberto Torres whipped in a free kick just after halftime to drag his team back into the match before Barcelona ran riot with a flurry of goals.
“I think it was a complete performance,” said Barca coach Luis Enrique.
“When they got back to 2-1, which was the worst moment because they’re back in the game and you never know, we were able to put our foot on the accelerator and close the game out. The way we played, we deserved to win by a large margin.”
Madrid deserved much the same against Depor after dominating from the start. It took Alvaro Morata just 52 seconds to find the net after being played in by Isco with James Rodriguez slamming home the second from a Lucas Vazquez cross.
Florin Andone scored from close range, stabbing home Gael Kakuta’s cross-shot in 35th minute, to give his side a glimmer of hope but nine minutes later Vazquez scored Madrid’s third.
Rodriguez and Isco struck before Joselu’s header gave Depor fans some late cheer but Casemiro had the last word and restored Madrid’s four-goal lead in the 87th minute.
BARCA PROTEST ‘SCUM’ COMMENT
Barcelona said on Thursday they will make a complaint to Spanish sporting authorities over comments by Malaga’s Qatari owner Abdullah Al-thani on Twitter describing the Catalans as “scum”.
“FC Barcelona expresses its rejection and indignation at the content of the tweet published by the president of Malaga, Abdullah Al-thani, which is counter to the principles of fair-play, ethics and legality,” said the Spanish champions in a statement.
Al-thani had responded to a message on Twitter from a Barcelona fan asking his club to do them a favour by beating Real Madrid on the last day of the season.
“God willing they (Real) will be flogged on the pitch. But the scum of Catalonia will not smell the league (title) after the lies they made up about coach Michel,” said the Qatari sheikh.
Malaga are coached by former Real player Michel who has come under fire in the Catalan press, questioning whether he would rather his side lose to Real so his ex employers can win the league.
Michel himself had said he’d rather provide Real with a “guard of honour” than a “blow” when the European champions visit the Rosaleda on the final day of the season.
However, he added: “But I’m a winner and I hope that before the final day everything is decided.”