Getafe shock Real as Messi rescues Barca

ASSOCIATED PRESS

MADRID: Defending champions Real Madrid have made their worst start to a season in 39 years after losing 2-1 at Getafe on Sunday to stay winless following two rounds of the Spanish League and sit five points adrift of Barcelona.

Real led after 27 minutes through Gonzalo Higuain, before Juan Valera equalised for Getafe in the 55th. Another defensive lapse led to Abdelaziz Barrada scoring the winner from a counter attack in the 75th. Barcelona, meanwhile, needed late goals from Lionel Messi to beat Osasuna 2-1 earlier.

Real’s attack had out-of-favour Kaka absent and the defense was missing injured center back Pepe, whose replacement Raul Arbiol allowed substitute Adrian Colunga to squirm free and set up Barranda for the winner.

Real looked ready to run away with the match early on, with Mesut Oezil hitting the crossbar before Higuain controlled Angel Di Maria’s pass to elude goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya and score from an angled shot.

But Real seemed to lose focus after the break, allowing Valera to get in front of Xabi Alonso and head into the net. Barrada gave his team all three points with a rising shot that beat goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Making matters worse for Real, unused substitute Fabio Coentrao was red carded for words he said from the bench.

Barcelona hit back from Joseba Llorente’s acrobatic opening goal and coach Tito Vilanova’s sending off to secure a second straight win. The hosts looked destined for win with Llorente getting his right foot at chest level to tap Roland Lamah’s cross past keeper Victor Valdes.

But Osasuna striker Juan Francisco Martinez failed to extend the lead after dispossessing Sergio Busquets in the 70th but striking the ball against the post. The tackle on Busquets led to Vilanova being sent off for protesting. Messi guided Alexis Sanchez’s short pass beyond goalkeeper Andres Fernandez to equalise in the 76th.

Messi then latched on to Jordi Alba’s cross in the

80th for the winner, giving Barca their first come-from-behind victory from a halftime deficit in Pamplona since 1960.

Barcelona joined Rayo Vallecano on six points, while 10-man Sevilla have four after rallying for a 1-1 draw at Granada. Abel Aguilar scored two goals as Deportivo La Coruna came from two goals down to draw 3-3 at Valencia.