The Hindu : Sport : Barca hits Real for a six

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Barca hits Real for a six

Henry, Messi score a brace each

MADRID: Barcelona opened up a seven-point lead at the top of the Spanish League table after humbling arch-rival Real Madrid 6-2 in a one-sided ‘clasico’ at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

The victory meant Barca, chasing its first title in three years, extended its lead over second-placed Real to seven points with four games left.

Pep Guardiola’s team will be champion if it wins next Sunday at home to Villarreal and Real loses at fourth-placed Valencia on Saturday.

“We have taken a big step (to the title),” a beaming Guardiola told a news conference.

“It’s a very sweet night winning at this stadium and in front of these fans.”

The defeat ended Real’s 18-match unbeaten league run, 17 wins and a draw, since it lost 2-0 at Barca in December. The Madrid club has won the league the last two years.

Real started ‘el clasico” nervously and Sergio Ramos gave the ball away to Messi in a dangerous position in the first minute. The Argentina international squared to Xavi but the midfielder’s shot was easily smothered by keeper Iker Casillas.

Ramos redeemed himself when he skipped past Eric Abidal on the right wing and sent over a perfect cross for Gonzalo Higuain to nod superbly past keeper Victor Valdes in the 14th minute.

Cool finish

Real’s lead lasted four minutes, Henry bursting clear on the left and finishing coolly before captain Carles Puyol headed in a Xavi freekick to make it 2-1.

Dangerman Messi and Samuel Eto’o went close to extending the lead as Barca dominated possession before Xavi robbed Lassana Diarra in midfield and Messi raced on to the loose ball to slot home after 36 minutes.

Ramos headed in Arjen Robben’s whipped free-kick in the 56th to briefly give the home fans hope but Barca always looked like adding to its tally and Henry, Messi and Gerard Pique completed the rout.

Guardiola picked his strongest side and the win will give the players a boost ahead of its Champions League semifinal second leg at Chelsea on Wednesday. The teams drew 0-0 at the Nou Camp in the first leg.

The results: Spanish League: Real Madrid 2 (Higuain 14, Ramos 56) lost to Barcelona 6 (Henry 18, 58, Puyol 20, Messi 35, 75, Pique 82); Villarreal 0 lost to Sevilla 2 (Fabiano 57, Kanoute 85); Numancia 2 (Moreno 1, Del Pino 61) bt Malaga 0.

Italian League: Bologna 1 (Moras 87) lost to Reggina 2 (Brienza 40, Barreto 46); Inter Milan 2 (Ibrahimovic 58, Sulley 70) bt Lazio 0.

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