FC Barcelona stays nine points clear

Real Valladolid	1-3	FC Barcelona
●Javi Guerra 89'		●Xavi 43' ●Messi 59' ●Tello 94'

(December 22, 2012)

FC Barcelona has won victory in the sixteenth Valladolid in seventeen league games and is now officially winter champions. FC Barcelona has been imposed with goals from Xavi, Messi and Tello. With this win, the club added 49 of 51 possible points and leaves Christmas holidays with 9 points ahead of Atletico Madrid.

With Jordi Roura at the helm of the team for the third league match this season, FC Barcelona players have jumped on the lawn of the Nuevo Zorrilla with a shirt to support Tito Vilanova with the slogan "Seny, i collons pit" and determined to devote another win to his coach. Very beginning, Alexis Sanchez has missed a glaring opportunity to break the deadlock and the game railroaded. The Valladolid, without pressure and with very clear ideas, has succeeded very well cover all spaces and rendered the FC Barcelona game, thicker than in other games. In another area, the only approach of the Spaniards in the entire first half was a header that hit Manucho defective chest of Jordi Alba. Local players have asked hands of FC Barcelona side, which in any case were attached to the body and therefore cannot be considered as penalty. 

Slowly and patiently, the club has increased its dominance against a team that has stood up to nearly break. A Xavi free-kick, deflected, and a Messi that crashed into the bottom right corner of the goal from Dani Hernandez gave way to 0-1. A brilliant collective action initiated by the left wing Alexis and continued by Messi finished Jordi Alba center topped by Xavi Hernandez from close range. A clear goal to seal Barca: touch, speed, accuracy and quality. 

The second half started with another ball to stick to the goal of Valladolid, this time after a header from Pedro. Soon after, Messi could make the second with a shot well wide with his right leg. But the third, and l from FC Barcelona number "10" has amended the above error with a goal. The Argentinian star has received a pass from Xavi heel and after making a spectacular Cano a defender, made it 0-2 with a diagonal shot. A true work of art, 91 of the year and the 26th in the League. 

With the game absolutely controlled, Rukavina has been about to become the third in his own goal but Dani has avoided the sticks. Piqué has given the fright with a bruised ankle but finally was able to continue without any problems in the field. The local public has even had time to cheer on two of the major figures of the Spanish. First to Villa and then Iniesta, who have entered the final stretch, have been received with applause by the fans of Valladolid. 

At the last minute, the Valladolid has managed to close the gap with a goal from Javi Guerra in an isolated play. For a moment, the local public has dreamed of the draw but Tello, who had just entered the field, has made the final 1-3 in the first and only ball that has touched. 

The club has done the work and with this win leaves intractable Christmas holidays as a leader with nine points ahead of Atletico Madrid. With Tito Vilanova following the game from home, has remained the immaculate record of Roura, which features matches for wins as head coach, and the club, in 17 league games has 16 wins and one draw.

Team Line-ups:

Real Valladolid	FC Barcelona
13.Daniel Hernandez	1.Victor Valdés
2.Antonio Rukavina	2.Dani Alves
4.Marc Valiente	14.Javier Mascherano
5.Henrique Sereno Fonseca	3.Gerard Piqué
24.Mikel Balenziaga	18.Jordi Alba
14.Omar Ramos	16.Sergio Busquets
15.Alberto Bueno(28.Rubén Peña 65')	6.Xavi Hernández
16.Lluis Sastre(8.Baraja 82')	11.Thiago Alcântara(8.Andrés Iniesta 84')
22.Victor Perez	9.Alexis Sánchez(7.David Villa 77')
10.Óscar González	10.Lionel Messi
25.Manucho(9.Javi Guerra 75')	17.Pedro Rodríguez(37.Cristian Tello 93')

Match Statistics:

Real Valladolid		FC Barcelona
4(2)	Shots (On target)	11(5)
34%	Ball Possession	64%
15	Fouls	4
2	Corner Kicks	4
1	Offsides	3
2	Clean Sheets	1
4	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0