Barca stamp authority on La Liga after just 16 games

 MADRID, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Leo Messi underlined his status as the greatest goalscorer in history as his 89th and 90th goals of 2012 helped his side to a 4-1 win at home to Atletico Madrid on Sunday night.

The win takes Barca nine points clear of Atletico, who remain second, while Real Madrid have lost further ground in third.

Atletico Madrid took the lead early in the game through a fine Radamel Falcao goal and for a while his side were in control and it looked as if he could win the 'battle of the goalscorers' against Messi.

However, Adriano Correira equalized with a magnificent left foot shot and Sergio Busquets kept calm to net from close range to turn things around for Barca before the break and the second half was all Barca, allowing Messi to confirm his status the best striker in Spain and probably the world.

Real Madrid's title challenge appears to have died as a result of a 2-2 draw at home to lowly Espanyol.

An 89th minute goal from Juan Albin gave Espanyol the draw and stun¹ Real Madrid, who had come back from behind thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Fabio Coentrao had cancelled out Sergio Garcia's opener for the visitors, who remain second from bottom of the table with just 12 points from 16 games.

Valencia coach Ernesto Valverde will not have enjoyed his first home game since taking charge of the club. A Chori Dominguez penalty² gave rivals, Rayo Vallecano all three points and the game ended with the crowd protesting against the direction of club President, Manuel Llorente.

Valencia's city neighbors, Levante had a much better day as Ruben Garcia's 19th minute goal gave them a 1-0 win in Zaragoza to keep them fifth in the table and mean that Levante have won all five games they have kicked off at midday on Sunday.

Saturday saw Malaga win the Andalusia derby away to Sevilla by 2-0 with the goals scored by Martin Demichelis and Joaquin Sanchez.

The result piles the pressure on Sevilla coach Michel Gonzalez, whose side is looking over their shoulder at the relegation³ zone, rather than concentrating on a battle to qualify⁴ for Europe.

Aritz Aduriz celebrated⁵ his 100th appearance for Athletic⁶ Club Bilbao with his 10th goal of the season to give Athletic a morale⁷ boosting⁸ 1-0 win against a Mallorca who created a host of chances only to be denied by poor finishing and a fine display by Athletic keeper, Gorka Iraizoz.

Mallorca have not won in their last 14 matches in all competitions and coach Joaquin Caparros is another in danger of losing his job.

A dreadful⁹ penalty decision for a handball that never was denied Osasuna a win away to Getafe. Kike Sola had put the visitors ahead, but Diego Castro equalized after referee¹⁰ Teixeira Vitienes invented a handball in injury time. Meanwhile Granada and Real Sociedad drew a dull game 0-0.

Monday sees games between Deportivo la Coruna and Valladolid and Celta and Betis to end the 16th round of games.

1 stun   

vt.打昏，使昏迷，使震惊，使惊叹

参考例句：

• When they told me she had gone missing I was totally stunned.他们告诉我她不见了时，我当时完全惊呆了。
• Sam stood his ground and got a blow that stunned him.萨姆站在原地，被一下打昏了。

2 penalty   

n.处罚，刑罚，罚款

参考例句：

• If you knock the ball with your hand in football,you will suffer a penalty.如果在踢足球时你用手碰到球，你将受到处罚。
• One of those arrested could face the death penalty.被捕的那些人中有一人可能被判死刑。

3 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

4 qualify   

vt.取得资格，有资格，限定，描述；vi.取得资格，有资格

参考例句：

• I won't qualify until next year.我明年才具备资格。
• You must qualify yourself for the post.你必须使自己具备担任这一工作的资格。

5 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

6 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。

7 morale   

n.道德准则，士气，斗志

参考例句：

• The morale of the enemy troops is sinking lower every day.敌军的士气日益低落。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

8 boosting   

n.增[升]压；加大推力[功率]，加速（发动机）；助推v.促进( boost的现在分词 )；增加；吹捧；向上推起

参考例句：

• The company needs boosting up, if it is not to be defeated by its competitors. 该公司如要在竞争中不被对手挤垮，就须加强实力。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The firm is boosting the new product. 公司正在大事宣传 [推销] 新产品。 来自辞典例句

9 dreadful   

adj.糟透了的，极端的，可怕的，令人畏惧的

参考例句：

• I cannot imagine what to do in this dreadful situation.我不能想像在这么糟的情况下该怎么办。
• I must apologize for the dreadful mistake I made.我为我所犯的严重错误深表歉意。

10 referee   

n.裁判员．仲裁人，代表人，鉴定人

参考例句：

• The team was left raging at the referee's decision.队员们对裁判员的裁决感到非常气愤。
• The referee blew a whistle at the end of the game.裁判在比赛结束时吹响了哨子。