Madrid defeat puts Barca on brink of title

Posted Sunday, May 01, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

MADRID (AFP) - Jose Mourinho's nightmare week went from bad to worse as his Real Madrid side all but conceded the title race to Barcelona with a 3-2 home defeat to strugglers Real Zaragoza on Saturday.

Still reeling from their 2-0 home loss to Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final first leg three days ago, Real suffered another setback at the Santiago Bernabeu and the surprise defeat means Barcelona need just four points from their remaining five games to retain the league title.

Barcelona are in action at Real Sociedad knowing a win would move them one point away from securing a third consecutive league crown.

A brace from Angel Lafita, with the first due to a rare howler from goalkeeper Iker Casillas, and a penalty from Gabriel Arenas downed Madrid, who were reduced to ten men late on with Ricardo Carvalho sent off for two yellow cards.

Sergio Ramos (62 min) and Karim Benzema (85) pulled goals back for the hosts, but Zaragoza held on to inflict a second league home defeat of the season on Real, who had also lost 1-0 to Sporting Gijon, and move them four points clear of the relegation zone.

Mourinho had taken up all the column inches in the Spanish media after accusing Barcelona of receiving favouritism from referees following their 2-0 Champions League win at the Bernabeu, but on the pitch his side talked little.

The Portuguese must now motivate his troops for Wednesday's semi final return leg at Camp Nou with his side needing to overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit to reach the Wembley final.

Real left out top-scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo and Angel di Maria with the Barcelona return leg in mind, but still boasted Kaka, Gonzalo Higuain, Pepe and Ramos with the latter two suspended for the European duel.

Kaka, an unused substitute in the Barcelona defeat, had Madrid's first opening on 18 minutes firing a right-footed drive just wide.

The hosts were controlling possession but fell behind four minutes before the break with goalkeeper Casillas gifting the visitors a goal with an uncharacteristic gaffe.

Casillas raced out of his goal to clear a long ball over the top but kicked thin air and Lafita rolled the ball into an empty net.

The mistake from Casillas will do little for his confidence ahead of the Barcelona duel and at half-time Real players trudged off with Mourinho writing notes on his pad for the team talk.

Mourinho threw on di Maria and Marcelo but his side then conceded a stupid penalty with Carvalho bringing down Lafita in the area on 54 minutes.

Midfielder Arenas converted the penalty to draw a chorus of jeers from the disgruntled home fans.

Ramos headed in a corner on 62 minutes to reduce the arrears and Benzema then hit the crossbar for Real as they pressed for an equaliser.

Zaragoza were holding on but then hit the hosts with a fine counter attack and Lafita slotted home his second on 77 minutes to clinch three vital points for the club and render Benzema's late strike irrelevant.

Barcelona are now just four points from retaining the league title, which coach Pep Guardiola said was the important title of the season.

"They know that we are playing for the most important title of the year, one which shows regularity, effort and work, and that makes you feel the proudest," said Guardiola.

"With the league title so close, there is no such thing as distractions. At this point, there is no such thing as either physical or mental tiredness."

Elsewhere Atletico Madrid travel to Deportivo La Coruna later on Saturday looking to make more headway in their bid to finish in the top six.