Baptista sinks Barca
The defeat cranks up the pressure on Rijkaard, with Jose Mourinho linked with a return to the Catalan giants
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Sunday, 23, Dec 2007 08:52
A stunning goal by former Arsenal striker Julio Baptista gave Real Madrid a 1-0 win over Barcelona in the Nou Camp.
Brazilian Baptista netted the winner at the end of the first half, a win which extends Madrid's lead over their arch rivals to seven points.
Madrid started with ex-Manchester United duo Gabriel Heinze and Ruud van Nistelrooy, while former Chelsea midfielder Arjen Robben was missing through injury.
Barcelona were without the injured Lionel Messi because of a thigh injury while former Gunner Thierry Henry was on the bench.
In an ill-tempered first-half, Carlos Puyol was fortunate not to be sent-off after appearing to push the referee after being booked for a mistimed challenge.
Madrid keeper Ilker Casillas foiled the home side with a remarkable save to keep out strikes from Samuel Eto'o and Andres Iniesta.
Casillas saved Madrid again when Iniesta's low cross from the right found Ronaldinho, whose first-time strike was palmed away by the Spain international.
The Spanish champions pounced on the counter attack with Baptista and van Nistelrooy trading passes before the Brazilian rifled a shot into the roof of the net on 36 minutes to make it 1-0.
Bernd Schuster's side defended solidly in the second-half, but were almost undone by Ronaldinho cutting in from the left and shooting narrowly over the bar.
Seventeen-year-old Bojan Krkic came on for Xavi in the closing stages and forced Casillas into a fine save with a long-range effort. Minutes later Yayha Toure, the brother of Arsenal defender Kolo, missed the target with the goal at his mercy.
La Liga resumes on January 6th after the winter break, with the pressure on Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard to catch runaway leaders Madrid.