Barcelona defeated at Osasuna with two players being dismissed

Posted at 12:54 PM, March 13, 2006

Spanish first division soccer leaders Barcelona had two players sent off during a 2-1 defeat at fourth-placed Osasuna yesterday.
The visitors went 1-0 down when Valdo cashed in on a goalkeeping error and Osasuna captain Patxi Punal added a second from the penalty spot after Edmilson was sent off for bringing down Savo Milosevic.
Substitute Henrik Larsson pulled a goal back 18 minutes from time but could not prevent Barcelona suffering their fourth league defeat of the season. Thiago Motta was also dismissed in injury time for a foul on substitute Pierre Webo.
Champions Barcelona remain nine points clear of Valencia and Real Madrid, who drew 0-0 at the Mestalla on Saturday after Ronaldo missed a last-minute penalty for the visitors.
Barcelona have 61 points with 11 games left. Osasuna are on 49, four clear of Celta Vigo who lost 2-0 at Espanyol on Saturday.
Relegation-threatened Alaves put the brakes on Sevilla's drive for a Champions League berth despite having two players sent off in the closing stages of their 2-1 home win over the Andalucians. The defeat left Sevilla five points adrift of Osasuna and one ahead of Villarreal, who were held 1-1 at Real Mallorca.
Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao scrambled a 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Cadiz despite having defender Fernando Amorebieta sent off in the 18th minute.
Six points separate the bottom seven teams with Malaga bringing up the rear on 22 points after their 1-1 draw at Real Betis. Cadiz have 25 points with Betis, Alaves and Bilbao all on 26. Mallorca have 27 and Real Sociedad 28.