Kovacevic double sends Real Sociedad clear
Darko Kovacevic struck twice to send Real Sociedad three points clear at the top of the Spanish first division on Sunday with a 2-1 win at home to a Barcelona side that finished with nine men.
Patrick Kluivert put Barca ahead on 33 minutes with a shot that hit the post and deflected in off goalkeeper Sander Westerveld but a Kovacevic header five minutes before half-time took the Basques level.
The Yugoslav striker was on target again early in the second half to put his side ahead and Barcelona hopes of a comeback were dashed when midfielder Thiago Motta was red-carded 16 minutes from time.
In the final minute of injury-time substitute Marc Overmars followed him off the field to cap a sorry evening for the Catalans.
With Valencia and Real Mallorca both dropping points, Real Sociedad's victory saw them re-establish a three-point lead at the top.
After 12 games, Real lead the standings on 26 points, three clear of Mallorca after their valiant 2-2 draw away to Deportivo Coruna.
Mallorca were trailing to Roy Makaay's opener when they had Ariel Ibagaza sent off after 21 minutes but they came back with goals from Walter Pandiani and Samuel Eto'o and Depor needed a second Makaay strike 20 minutes from time to claim a draw.
Valencia are third on 22 points after they were held to a goalless draw at Alaves.
Celta Vigo moved up to fourth on 21 points with a 2-0 win at Valladolid, with Real Betis climbing to fifth a point further back thanks to a 1-0 success at home to Athletic Bilbao.
Deportivo's draw was enough to take them sixth on 19 points.
Real Madrid, who are in Tokyo for Tuesday's World Club Cup game against Olimpia, slip down to seventh on 18 points. Their match at home to Sevilla has been rescheduled for January 2.
WORRYING SITUATION
Barcelona have won all their European games this season but their domestic form has gone from bad to worse and they are now 10 points off the championship pace in 10th place in the table.
"The situation is worrying," said Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal. "There are a lot of games still to be played, though."
Real Sociedad fully deserved their win for some muscular attacking play, with the swift passing of Valery Karpin and Xabi Alonso and the strong forward runs of Kovacevic threatening to overwhelm the Catalans.
Barca keeper Roberto Bonano had to make three outstanding saves in the opening half hour to keep the home side at bay, while Kovacevic will wonder how he managed to miss the target when a Javi de Pedro cross presented him with a simple chance.
Kluivert's goal came as a surprise to everyone, not least Westerveld, who seemed to be unsighted as the striker turned and shot from the edge of the box.
The goalkeeper was beaten low to his right and as the ball struck the post it cannoned back off his shoulder and in.
The home side were briefly unsettled but Kovacevic took them level before the break as he was left unmarked at the far post to head in from a free kick.
"We gave away that equalising goal," said a frustrated van Gaal. "We keep letting in goals that we could easily avoid."
Barcelona enjoyed more of the possession at the start of the second half but they were exposed on the counter-attack in the 54th minute, Kovacevic taking a fine pass from De Pedro and lifting the ball over the advancing Bonano.
Motta's sending-off only made matters worse for Barcelona, who managed just a couple of half-chances as they chased the game, Westerveld saving comfortably from Overmars and Kluivert heading wide from a corner.
The red card for Overmars came as the Dutch winger was booked for a late tackle and then received his marching orders, apparently for a comment made to the referee.
