Barcelona stay seven points behind rampant Real Madrid

Feb 4, 2012, 23:09 GMT

Madrid - Barcelona stayed seven points behind Spanish leaders Real Madrid on Saturday with a patchy 2-1 home defeat of Real Sociedad.

Earlier on Saturday, Real won 1-0 at local rivals Getafe, thanks to a headed goal from Spain defender Sergio Ramos.

Real now have 55 points from 21 games, a new record at this stage of the season, Barca have 48.

The Barca game was played in sub-zero cold, at reportedly the lowest temperature ever for a match in the Camp Nou.

Winger Cristian Tello warmed up the fans by making it 1-0 after just nine minutes with a calm finish after being set up by Lionel Messi.

It was Tello's first league start because of Barca's many injuries.

Afterwards he said: 'I am pleased to have scored, but what makes me really happy is that we won. I am here to help the team whenever I am needed.'

Tello, 20, is the latest youngster brought in by Barca coach Pep Guardiola to combat the team's injury crisis.

He expressed the hope that 'Real Madrid will drop points sooner or later, there are many points still up for grabs.'

Sociedad keeper Claudio Bravo kept Barca at bay until 18 minutes from time, when Messi made it 2-0 with his trusty left foot on a centre from Dani Alves.

Straight away Carlos Vela pulled a goal back for Sociedad, but Barca managed to hold on despite their fatigue and imprecision - and despite a nasty-looking knee injury for midfielder Sergio Busquets.

Earlier on Saturday, rampant Real Madrid had scored their sixth straight win, 1-0 at Getafe.

Ramos, who scored the only goal later said, 'It was a very difficult game, against opponents who always make things hard for us.'

'We were serious in defence and dangerous in attack,' he added. 'Our objective is to keep ahead of Barcelona'.

Jose Mourinho's leaders were in the driving seat from start to finish but only managed to score once, when aerial specialist Ramos headed in a corner from Mesut Oezil in the 18th minute.

League top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo had a goal disallowed for a tight offside three minutes from time.

Dull Getafe, who are eighth, hardly managed to create a single clear chance to equalize.

Also on Saturday, defiant Espanyol battled to a 3-3 draw at Athletic Bilbao thanks to an injury-time equalizer from supersub Juan Albin.

Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa said: 'I am sad but not annoyed with this result. We created three times as many chances as Espanyol and should really have won.'

Oscar de Marcos, one of Bilbao's promising youngsters, gave the hosts an early lead, only for Koffi Romaric to level for Espanyol.

Vladimir Weiss put Espanyol 2-1 ahead three minutes into the second half, against the run of play, but the Basque 'Lions' turned the game around with headed goals from Spanish internationals Fernando Llorente and Javi Martinez.

However, Uruguayan striker Albin then came off the bench and made it 3-3 with a left-footed blast after being set up by Kalu Uche.

The draw leaves Espanyol in fifth place with 32 points, level with fourth-placed Levante. Bilbao are sixth with 30 points.

Levante were held to a disappointing 1-1 home draw by Racing Santander, for whom Manuel Arana hit the equalizer after Arouna Kone had put the hosts ahead.

According to Santander coach Juanjo Gonzalez, 'this was a fair result because of the all the hard work we put in this evening.'

Saturday's other early game was a 1-0 home win for Mallorca over Betis on a goal from Gonzalo Castro. A bad-tempered game saw Ivan Ramis and Victor sent off for Mallorca, along with Betis defender Mario.