Real Madrid retain 10-point lead over Barcelona

 　　MADRID, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid won a difficult and controversial away game against Rayo Vallecano to retain their 10 point lead over FC Barcelona at the top of the BBVA Primera Liga table on Sunday.

　　Cristiano Ronaldo sealed an ugly win with a spectacular back-heel 10 minutes into the second half, but Madrid were again beneficiaries of some favorable referring decisions after match official Fernandez Borbalan chose not to see a clear aggression¹ from Sergio Ramos on Diego Costa, which should have been punished with a red card for Ramos and a penalty for Rayo after just 19 minutes.

　　He then sent Rayo's Michu off for an innocuous looking challenge in the closing minutes as the home side looked to get back on level terms.

　　Barcelona were under pressure as a result of that result, but a fine performance and a magnificent free kick from Leo Messi helped them to a 2-1 win away to Atletico Madrid.

　　Dani Alves opened the scoring for Barca following a fine team move, but Radamal Falcao equalized for Atletico in the second half. Valdes had to make several fine saves before Leo Messi's quick thinking saw him chip home the winning free kick before anyone was expecting it.

　　Barca remain 10 points behind Real Madrid but have now played possibly their toughest away game between now and the end of the season.

　　Sunday kicked off with a 2-2 draw between Villarreal and Athletic² Club. Marcos Senna scored a fine free kick in the first half to put Villarreal ahead, but Athletic hit back after the break with goals from birthday boy, Fernando Llorente and Markel Susaeta.

　　Nilmar then struck to score the equalizer in what was a thrilling game of football.

　　Sevilla avenged³ their Copa del Rey defeat to Valencia with a 2-1 win in Mestalla. Tino Costa put Valencia ahead, but Gary Medel and Jesus Navas gave Sevilla their second win in three games under new coach Michel.

　　Osasuna kept up the pressure on the top six thanks to a 2-1 home win against Granada: the goals came in the first 31 minutes through Javed Nekounam, Dejan Lekic and Mikel Rico, who gave Granada a chance. Osasuna ended with a player less after Patxi Punal was sent off in the second half.

　　Real Sociedad also took a big step toward assuring safety with a 1-0 win against Mallorca. Imanol's Agirretxe's 79th minute goal was the difference between two sides looking to escape the relegation⁴ zone.

　　Saturday saw Levante move back into the top four with a 2-1 win away to Espanyol, who had kicked off the weekend in fourth place only to fall behind as former winger Valdo put Levante ahead midway through the first half.

　　The home side controlled the game but failed to create clear-cut chances against a well-organized Levante defense⁵. However, when Kalu Uche headed home the equalizer with 15 minutes remaining there looked as if they could still win the match only for Levante substitute Ruben Suarez to win the game with an 89th minute free kick that took a deflection to leave Espanyol keeper Kiko Casilla stranded⁶.

　　The weekend kicked off with two 1-1 draws between Betis and Getafe and relegation threatened Racing⁷ Santander and Sporting Gijon.

　　Jorge Molina scored for Betis in the second half of their game only for his strike to be canceled out by Dorado's own goal five minutes later.

　　David Barral put Sporting ahead in Santander and the home side equalized from Christian⁸ Stauni's penalty kick. The result leaves both sides in the relegation zone.

　　Malaga enjoyed a 5-1 win over bottom of the table Zaragoza. Carlos Aranda had put the leaders ahead midway through the first half, but Seba Fernandez equalized with the last action of the period.

　　Paulo Da Silva deflected⁹ a cross past his own keeper after 70 minutes to gift Malaga the lead and Zaragoza then fell apart as Martin Demichelis, Izco and Solomon Rondon gave Malaga a score that was more convincing that their performance.

　　Zaragoza coach Manuel Jimenez later described his side's performance in the last 20 minutes as 'shameful¹⁰' and Zaragoza have just 15 points from 24 matches.

1 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

2 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

3 avenged   

v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复

参考例句：

• She avenged her mother's death upon the Nazi soldiers. 她惩处了纳粹士兵以报杀母之仇。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Indians avenged the burning of their village on〔upon〕 the settlers. 印第安人因为村庄被焚毁向拓居者们进行报复。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 relegation   

n.驱逐，贬黜；降级

参考例句：

• Liaoning team lost this game, is still deeply avoid relegation zone. 辽宁队本场失利后，仍然深陷保级区。 来自互联网
• In society, relegation is based on your income. 社会上的规类是以你的收入为基准。 来自互联网

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

6 stranded   

a.搁浅的，进退两难的

参考例句：

• He was stranded in a strange city without money. 他流落在一个陌生的城市里， 身无分文，一筹莫展。
• I was stranded in the strange town without money or friends. 我困在那陌生的城市，既没有钱，又没有朋友。

7 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

8 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

9 deflected   

偏离的

参考例句：

• The ball deflected off Reid's body into the goal. 球打在里德身上反弹进球门。
• Most of its particles are deflected. 此物质的料子大多是偏斜的。

10 shameful   

adj.可耻的，不道德的

参考例句：

• It is very shameful of him to show off.他向人炫耀自己，真不害臊。
• We must expose this shameful activity to the newspapers.我们一定要向报社揭露这一无耻行径。