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Apr 17 2014, 11:16 AM
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BARCELONA, Spain -- The Spanish league is barely three months old, but Real Madrids title defence is in serious danger after Real Betis midfielder Benat Etxebarria struck from long range to deal last seasons champion a 1-0 loss on Saturday. Madrid appeared to have put its struggles from earlier this season well behind it after stringing together five straight wins, but even with Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Kaka on the pitch, it failed to break through a Betis defence that had lost by four or more goals three times this season. Jose Mourinhos team is in third place and can find itself an imposing 11 points behind Barcelona if the league leader wins at Levante on Sunday. The largest deficit ever overcome by a team that went on to win La Liga was eight points by Rafa Benitezs Valencia in 2004. A stern Mourinho acknowledged that it would be "difficult" to repeat as domestic champions. "I understand that our fans are pessimistic. It is very possible that we will arrive to the end of December 11, 12, 13 points behind," he said. "But it is still possible. We have to try to cut and cut and cut into (Barcelonas) lead." After being routed 5-1 by Sevilla in the Seville derby just six days before, Pepe Mels Betis appeared to be an easy target for a Madrid that had just eliminated English champion Manchester City from the Champions League and was unbeaten in eight rounds. But Betis emerged victorious thanks to an impressive physical display that never wavered through 90-plus minutes. "It was a tough week for both the team and our fans. We deserved this win," a breathless Etxebarria said. "We had a good game plan and worked hard in defence. They didnt have many clear scoring chances and we had some more on the break." It was Betis second win in 22 games in all competitions against Madrid since 2001. Both sides pressing style set a fast pace from the start at Benito Villamarin Stadium, but after Madrids Sami Khedira missed a good look on goal Etxebarria netted what proved to be the winner 17 minutes in. The Basque player picked up Angel Di Marias wild clearance from the flank, dribbled around Khedira and beat goalkeeper Iker Casillas with right-footed shot from about 23 yards. "I was fortunate the ball fell to me," said Etxebarria, a Spain international. "I controlled it and shot and it went in." Madrid bombarded Betis area with crosses, but came no closer before halftime than Di Marias shots into the side and the top of the netting. Mourinho sent on playmakers Luka Modric and Kaka at the start of the second half for Mesut Oezil and fellow Germany international Khedira. And when the leveler didnt come, the Portuguese manager soon threw forward Jose Callejon into the mix. Yet even with all its firepower, Madrid couldnt convert its scarce opportunities while giving up chances to Betis Salva Sevilla and Ruben Castro on counterattacks. The nearest Madrid came was a Kaka shot that drew a diving parry from goalkeeper Adrian San Miguel, who bounced back in fine form from his woeful performance in last weeks loss at Sevilla. Madrid only dropped seven points away from Santiago Bernabeu Stadium last season en route to the title. It has already relinquished 11 points on the road through 13 rounds this campaign. Also, Malaga outclassed a drab Valencia 4-0 thanks to a goal and assist by midfielder Francisco Portillo in Saturdays meeting of two of Spains sides to reach the knockout rounds of the Champions League. Leonardo Carrilhos strike three minutes from time sparked Rayo Vallecano to a 2-0 home win over Mallorca, while Valladolid broke a streak of three home draws by beating Granada 1-0 thanks to Angola striker Manuchos second-half goal. Second-place Atletico Madrid hosts Sevilla on Sunday, while Espanyol hosts Getafe and Deportivo La Coruna visits Athletic Bilbao. Real Zaragoza plays Celta Vigo on Monday. Real Sociedad drew 0-0 with Osasuna at home on Friday. cheap nfl jerseys . This week, they discuss the Grey Cup in Toronto, the Canadian national womens soccer team, Alex Anthopoulos and the Toronto Blue Jays and the drama of the NHL lockout. wholesale jerseys . The deal is reportedly a one-way deal, which means the Leafs likely expect Holzer to begin the season on Torontos big league roster after the blueliner spent most of last season with the AHLs Toronto Marlies. http://www.chinanfljerseyswholesale.com/ . A person familiar with negotiations, on Monday, provided the details of what was expected to be discussed at the meeting that will be held in New York. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the NHL and the NHL Players Association have not issued an update on talks. wholesale nfl jerseys . -- It has been a chaotic week for Shanghai Bobby. wholesale jerseys from china . Anderson and Trent Guy each scored two touchdowns as the Alouettes took the battle for first place in the CFL East Division in an unexpectedly easy 31-10 win on Sunday afternoon. Montreal (8-4) leads the Argonauts (6-6) by four points with six regular season games left for both clubs. SEVILLE, Spain -- Atletico Madrid won 4-2 at nine-man Real Betis to rise to second place in the Spanish league on Wednesday, with Radamel Falcao scoring a double to become the leading scorer in the competition this season. Betis took a 2-1 advantage into halftime after having the good fortune to score off a pair of passes that ended up finding the back of the net. But Falcao answered both times to take his league tally to seven goals. Diego Costa and Raul Garcia then netted to ensure undefeated Atletico its fourth straight victory through five rounds. Falcaos goals puts him one ahead of Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, while Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has only scored three times so far. "I never said I wanted to compete with Cristiano and Messi," said Falcao. "I want to score goals to help my team. Nothing else. We are competing with 19 teams, not just Madrid and Barcelona. We have high hopes to do good things after this strong start to the season." Betis forward Salvador Agras long pass in the 25th caught Atletico goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo anticipating Ruben Castros run, leaving him out of position to intercept the ball as it crossed his area and fell in the far corner of the goal. Falcao stretched to redirect in Garcias low pass to level for the visitors three minutes later. Those two players then forced one-handed saves from goalkeeper Casto Espinosa as Atletico pressed forward. But it was Betis that went back in front when Juan Carlos Perezs pass took a deflection off Atletico defender Juanfran Torres and looped over Asenjo for a goal just before halftime. The game swung back in Atleticos favvour three minutes after the restart.dddddddddddd. Damien Perquis was shown a direct red card for fouling Falcao in the box, leaving Betis a man down and without the lead after the Colombia international rolled in the spot kick. It was Falcaos 10th goal through six games in all competitions for Atletico this season. "Betis goals came from strokes of luck, and its goalkeeper was the best player of the first half," said Atletico coach Diego Simeone. "In the second half, the penalty set us on course." Diego Castro went on for Falcao in the 54th and a minute later scored from close range after a deflected ball fell at his feet. Simeone said that he replaced Falcao after he scored the penalty because "he didnt feel well." Betis went down to nine men in the 78th after substitute Joel Campbell received his second booking for handling the ball, when it appeared that Atleticos Filipe Luis in fact had first touched it with his hand inside his own area. "We saw some unbelievable things happen in this game. If I bit my tongue I would poison myself," said Betis coach Pepe Mel, whose teams two-game winning run came to an end. "We went from the chance to make it 3-3 to being down to nine men." Atletico eventually capitalized on its numerical advantage in injury time when Garcia was left unmarked to leisurely volley into the top of the net. The match was originally scheduled for Sept. 3 but was pushed back due to Atleticos appearance in the European Super Cup. Now both teams face a quick turnaround, with Betis playing at Malaga on Saturday and Atletico at Espanyol on Sunday. ' ' '
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