Moody's upgrades Saudi Arabia's credit rating to Aa3 with stable outlook    Riyadh Metro to begin partial operations next Wednesday: Report    Al Okhdood halts Al Shabab's winning streak with a 1-1 draw in Saudi Pro League    Mahrez leads Al Ahli to victory over Al Fayha in Saudi Pro League    Al Qadsiah hands Al Nassr their first defeat in the Saudi Pro League    Saudi musical marvels takes center stage in Tokyo's iconic opera hall    Downing Street indicates Netanyahu faces arrest if he enters UK    London's Gatwick airport reopens terminal after bomb scare evacuation    Civil Defense warns of thunderstorms across Saudi Arabia until Tuesday    Saudi Arabia, Japan strengthen cultural collaboration with new MoU    Slovak president meets Saudi delegation to bolster trade and investment ties    Saudi defense minister meets with Swedish state secretary    Navigating healthcare's future: Solutions for a sustainable system    Al Khaleej qualifies for Asian Men's Club League Handball Championship final    Sixth foreign tourist dies of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos    Katy Perry v Katie Perry: Singer wins right to use name in Australia    Trump picks Pam Bondi as attorney general after Matt Gaetz withdraws    Al-Jasser: Saudi Arabia to expand rail network to over 8,000 km    Sitting too much linked to heart disease –– even if you work out    Denmark's Victoria Kjær Theilvig wins Miss Universe 2024    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Xavi, Messi lift Barca past Sevilla
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 19 - 03 - 2012

A Xavi free kick and an exquisite lob from Lionel Messi fired Barcelona to a 2-0 win at Sevilla that cut Real Madrid's lead at the top of La Liga back to seven points Saturday.
Xavi curled a shot over wall after 18 minutes and World Player of the Year Messi bagged his 31st of the league campaign soon after.
The Argentine started the move deep in midfield playing a one-two with Andres Iniesta, he nutmegged a defender as he skipped into the area, and calmly lifted the ball over the advancing Andres Palop.
Having carved a host of first-half chances, however, Barca spent much of the second period pegged back as both goalkeepers Palop and Victor Valdes made top-class saves.
The champion held firm and moved on to 63 points from 27 games.
Jose Mourinho's Real, on 70 points, can restore its 10-point advantage Sunday if it can beat fourth-placed Malaga at the Bernabeu.
“We played very well in the first half and we scored two goals and could have got more, but the second half was a different story,” Pique told Spanish television. “We have done our job now we need to see what happens tomorrow. At least they (Real) go out knowing we are there behind them and we are still in the fight.”
Barca coach Pep Guardiola sounded a more pessimistic note when he was asked about the side's chances of catching Real to win their fourth consecutive league crown.
“You should forget about this league, we aren't going to win it,” he told reporters.
Both sides came out at the start of the match wearing shirts in support of Barcelona's French defender Eric Abidal, who found out he needed a liver transplant during the week.
Osasuna climbed to fifth with 29 points after grabbing a late equalizer to draw 1-1 at basement side Real Zaragoza.
Rayo Vallecano climbed to eighth with 37 points after beating another promoted club Real Betis 3-0 in the late game, with second-half goals from Emiliano Armenteros, Diego Costa and Raul Tamudo
Zaragoza stayed 20th with 19 points, eight short of safety and five behind 19th-placed Sporting Gijon.
Sporting, whose 62-year-old coach Javier Clemente was celebrating his 500th game in La Liga, lost 2-1 at fellow strugglers Granada to first-half strikes from Carlos Martins and Guilherme Siqueira.
Real Sociedad's Inigo Martinez put the ball in his own net to give Getafe a 1-0 home win.


Clic here to read the story from its source.