Real Madrid loses at Sevilla, Barca routs Getafe
Associated Press
BARCELONA, Spain— Sevilla struck early and held on to deal Real Madrid a 1-0 loss as the defending Spanish champions fell eight points behind pacesetter Barcelona on Saturday.
A short-handed Barcelona, meanwhile, routed Getafe 4-1 as Lionel Messi went on with half an hour to play and added to Adriano’s opener with a pair of goals before David Villa netted to keep them perfect in league play.
Madrid, which has won just once in four rounds, was unsettled at the start at Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium and Piotr Trochowski capitalized to score from a corner two minutes in, breaking Sevilla’s streak of seven straight defeats to Madrid.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho was scathing of his players after their second league loss.
“We got what we deserved after a horrible game,” said Mourinho, who will have to find some quick answers before their Champions League opener against Manchester City in just three days.
“My players’ heads are not focused, for many of them football is not a priority. But I am the coach, and if there are heads that are not focused it is my fault.
“I am not worried about the points, my worry is that I don’t have a team.”
All eyes were on Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo to see if he would again refuse to celebrate his goals in a display of his unexplained displeasure with his club.
But Sevilla’s defense made sure the Portugal forward never got the chance to show his “sadness” with another glum display.
Mourinho denied that Ronaldo’s enigmatic comments in the last round about not being happy at Madrid, which have sparked speculation that he is seeking a new contract or even a transfer, had rattled his squad.
“No, I don’t think so. This game wasn’t very different from the other games,” he said. “Therefore I don’t think it has any relation with the rumor of the last two weeks.”
Madrid was unnerved from the start and left Trochowski free to charge into the area and blast Ivan Rakitic’s cross into the top of the net.
Mourinho shuffled his lineup at halftime with Luka Modric and Karim Benzema going on.
“At halftime I changed two players, but I wanted to change seven,” Mourinho said.
Modric made his presence felt with a long-range strike that goalkeeper Andres Palop grazed just enough to alter its trajectory and send it crashing off the upright.
But Madrid’s apparent renewal turned into a mirage as it again stalled in attack down the stretch.
Also, Valencia beat Celta Vigo 2-1 and Malaga downed Levante 3-1 before their respective Champions League openers against Bayern Munich and Zenit St. Petersburg.
Messi started the game in southern Madrid on the bench with Barcelona’s own Champions League opener against Spartak Moscow set for Wednesday, adding to the void left by the injured Iniesta, Alexis Sanchez and Jordi Alba.
But Cesc Fabregas got Barcelona rolling in the 32nd when he carried into the area and laid off for Adriano to score in his second straight game following the Brazilian defender’s winner last round.
Barcelona’s injury problems continued to grow, however, when Carles Puyol was substituted in the 57th after hurting his left knee.
Messi went on in the 59th and put the result beyond doubt.
The star forward converted a spot kick in the 74th after Pedro Rodriguez was tripped in the area, and four minutes later Messi tapped in a cross by Martin Montoya to take his league-leading tally to six goals.
Getafe got its consolation goal in the 80th, but Villa sealed the rout after going on 15 minutes before time when he collected a pass and deftly shot by goalkeeper Miguel Moya.
“We dominated from the start,” said Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez. “We are playing well.”
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Tags: Barcelona , Champions League , Ivan Rakitic , Real Madrid
