Zaragoza: Roberto; Pablo Alvarez, Da Silva,
Paredes, Abraham; Pinter, Rubén Micael (Juan Carlos 80'); Zuculini,
Lafita, Obradovic (Lanzaro 60'); Aranda (Hélder Postiga 60'). 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Dani Alves
(Montoya 68'), Puyol, Mascherano, Adriano; Thiago, Busquets (Keita 55'),
Fàbregas (Xavi 88'); Alexis, Messi, Pedro. 4-3-3.
Goals:
1-0. 30. Aranda. Headed ball back in to net after
Valdés blocked first shot.
1-1. 36. Puyol. Poked shot past Roberto
after keeper dropped Cesc's corner.
1-2. 39. Messi. Picked up Alexis pass
and ran on to shoot inside near post.
1-3. 85. Messi (penalty). After
Paredes tripped Alexis inside penalty area.
1-4. 92. Pedro. Controlled
Messi's lobbed pass and steered shot past keeper.
Yellow cards: Valdés 23', Zuculini 27', Abraham 35', 44', Keita 43', Rubén Micael 58', Adriano 58', Lanzaro 81', Paredes 84', Fàbregas 87', Thiago 93' / red cards: Abraham 44'.
Barcelona closed the gap on Real Madrid again to three points after a 1-4 win at Zaragoza on Saturday night. The locals were looking to build on their run of three victories in a row, and they could have gone ahead midway through the first half when they were awarded a penalty after Víctor Valdés brought down Lafita inside the area. Valdés saved Aranda's spot kick though, and Lafita headed the rebound against the bar, but the Maños did take the lead a few minutes later when Aranda headed the ball back in to the net after the keeper blocked his first shot. By half time however Barça were in front, Puyol poking the ball in to the net after Roberto failed to hold on to a Fàbregas corner, and Messi picking up an Alexis assist before running through to shoot inside the near post. Things got worse for the locals when Abraham was sent off for a second bookable offence on the stroke of half time, although Obradovic fired a good chance over the bar soon after the restart, and the referee waved away a penalty claim when Lafita's header hit Keita's arm with his back turned. Thiago and Messi went close at the other end though, and with five minutes to go Messi made it three from the penalty spot after Paredes tripped Alexis in the area, a record 60th goal for the season for the Argentinian striker. Pedro rounded off the scoring in injury time after a passing move with Messi, but by then Zaragoza had given up the fight.