Review: Real and Barca both win in Primera Liga

 　　MADRID, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid and FC Barcelona both won their matches in the BBVA Primera Liga this weekend to maintain the status quo at the top of the league table.

　　Real Madrid brushed past a poor Real Sociedad side 5-1 on Saturday night to keep their nerve after dropping four points in their last two matches.

　　Gonzalo Higuain scored an early goal and two each from Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema wrapped up and easy win after a Xabi Prieto goal had given the visitors a glimmer¹ of hope before the break.

　　FC Barcelona had kicked the weekend off with a 2-0 win in Mallorca to maintain the pressure at the top of the table.

　　Leo Messi scored a freak goal from a cross which evaded² everyone before ending in the back of the net and Alexis Sanchez hit the post before the break.

　　Thiago Alcantara was harshly sent off early in the second half for handball when the ball had hit his shoulder, but Barcelona defended well with a player less and Gerard Pique³ sealed the win with 10 minutes remaining when he scored from close range after Messi had hit the post.

　　Third-placed Valencia lost 3-1 in Getafe after taking the lead after 5 minutes from Roberto Soldado goal. Getafe turned things around before the break with goals from Pedro Rios, Miku and an own goal from Bruno Saltor.

　　Apono's injury time penalty gave Zaragoza a dramatic 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid and keeps his side in with a chance of avoiding relegation⁴.

　　Osasuna continued their challenge for a place in Europe next season with a 2-0 win away to Levante. Goals from Raul Garcia and Nino gave Jose Luis Mendilibar's side a fine win to help them prepare for next weekend's visit of Real Madrid.

　　Levante's defeat allowed Malaga to leapfrog them into fourth place thanks to a fightback away to Espanyol. Philippe Coutinho had put Espanyol ahead with a clever free kick under the Malaga defensive⁵ wall after 24 minutes, but Malaga fought back well in the second half and two goals in three minutes from Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Martin Demichelis saw them turn it around in the last 15 minutes.

　　Malaga are now level on points with Valencia and can think about direct qualification for the Champions League.

　　Athletic⁶ Club Bilbao could only draw 1-1 at home to struggling Sporting Gijon after Lora scored an injury time equalizer for the visitors. Oscar de Marcos had put Athletic ahead and Iker Munian missed a penalty that would have opened the scoring in the first half.

　　Finally Villarreal took a huge step towards safety thanks to a 2-0 win away to Rayo Vallecano. Miguel Angel Lotina's side too the points thanks to goals from Marco Ruben and Angel Lopez and have now taken four points from two matches under their experienced new coach.

　　Racing⁷ Santander also keep battling for survival and took a valuable 1-1 draw from their visit to Betis. Roque Santa Cruz opened the scoring for Betis in the first half, but Christian⁸ Stauni secured a point for the visitors with just over 10 minutes remaining.

　　Granada and Sevilla close the round of games when they meet on Monday night.

1 glimmer   

v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光

参考例句：

• I looked at her and felt a glimmer of hope.我注视她，感到了一线希望。
• A glimmer of amusement showed in her eyes.她的眼中露出一丝笑意。

2 evaded   

逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出

参考例句：

• For two weeks they evaded the press. 他们有两周一直避而不见记者。
• The lion evaded the hunter. 那狮子躲开了猎人。

3 pique   

v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气

参考例句：

• She went off in a fit of pique.她一赌气就走了。
• Tom finished the sentence with an air of pique.汤姆有些生气地说完这句话。

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 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

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 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。