Barca hand out warning to Chelsea

BARCELONA extended their first division lead to seven points with a 2-0 win over Real Mallorca, as their rivals Real Madrid crashed 2-0 at home to Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

The Catalan club’s win was a boost to their confidence ahead of their Champions League clash with Premiership leaders Chelsea on Wednesday.

“What was pleasing about this match was that we showed our true mental qualities. Mallorca was never going to be an easy game even though they are close to the bottom of the table,” said Barca coach Frank Rijkaard. “Even at 2-0 I couldn’t relax but we battled and concentrated.”

Deco opened the scoring after 17 minutes, with a 20 yard run before unleashing a right foot shot. The Portuguese international was on target again 12 minutes after the break, this time with a left foot effort from the edge of the area. The scoreline could have even more embarrassing but for two close-range saves from keeper Miguel Angel Moya.

“I am proud of the way we played but Barcelona’s performance in this match will act as a warning to Chelsea,” said Mallorca coach Hector Cuper.

One worrying note for Barca is that Puyol continues to be bothered by a painful right knee. “I’m not a doctor, and he’ll be getting treatment in the next few days, but I think and hope he’ll be OK to face Chelsea,” said Rijkaard.

Real Madrid’s build-up to their own mouth-watering Champions League clash against Juventus tomorrow night suffered a serious setback when they lost for the first time under new coach Wanderley Luxemburgo.

Second half goals from Asier Del Horno and Andoni Iraola ended Real and Luxemburgo’s seven-game winning run in the league.

Madrid started the match Saturday with Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and skipper Raul Gonzalez all on the bench, although Luxemburgo threw them all simultaneously into the fray just after the hour. In the 17th minute, Tiko Martinez hit a powerful drive which came off the crossbar and beat Iker Casillas in the Real goal. The referee waved away Athletic’s appeals but television replays later showed the ball had crossed the line.

“This was the worst game we’ve had this year, but the league isn’t lost,” said Casillas. “We’ll get over this and we are already starting to think about Juventus. In many respects, that is an even more important game for our future.”

Michael Owen started just his second league game under Luxemburgo but was replaced by Ronaldo.

Sevilla’s hopes of being in the Champions League next season took a knock when the third-placed side lost 1-0 at Real Sociedad.

The only goal of the game came four minutes from the whistle when Darko Kovacevic chested down a long ball with his back to the goal, before spinning then blasted it home on the half-volley.

Real Betis midfielder Marcos Assuncao struck either side of halftime to earn his team a 2-0 win at home to Deportivo Coruna that pushed them up into third place in the Primera Liga last night. Last season’s champions Valencia dropped to fifth, three points behind Sevilla, after they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at struggling Racing Santander.

In Italy, Milan’s last-gasp victory against Cagliari on Saturday, which saw them draw level with Juventus at the top of Serie A, was overshadowed by a bad injury to Andriy Shevchenko.

The European Footballer of the Year needs surgery after fracturing his left cheekbone and he is expected to be out of action for between 20 and 30 days. The 28-year-old Ukrainian striker, who has scored 14 league goals, has been ruled out of next Wednesday’s crunch Champions League match away to Manchester United at Old Trafford - where he scored the winning penalty that clinched the 2003 final against Juventus - and next Sunday’s Milan derby.

Juve were held to a goalless draw at Messina, while in the day’s other match Inter Milan held onto third position after drawing 1-1 at fourth-placed Udinese. Juventus striker David Trezeguet has also been ruled out of tomorrow night’s encounter at Real Madrid through illness however Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved will be available.

Juan Sebastian Veron gave Inter a 58th minute lead at Udine before a late headed equaliser from Swedish striker Henok Goitom rescued a point for Luciano Spalletti’s side. Inter’s 16th draw of the season left them 11 points off the pace. Yesterday Parma defeated Brescia 2-1 while Roma crushed Livorno 3-0.

Bayern Munich manager Felix Magath has confirmed that Michale Ballack is a doubt for tomorrow night’s showdown with Arsenal. The 28-year-old midfielder missed Saturday’s 5-0 thrashing of Borussia Dortmund with muscular problems. Roy Makaay scored a sensational hat-trick in the game.

Bayer Leverkusen will be without German international Jens Nowotny for tomorrow night’s meeting with Liverpool. The 31-year-old Bayer captain hobbled out of Saturday’s 4-2 win over FC Nuremberg after 77 minutes with a knee injury and is expected to be out for the rest of the season.