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Barca lose at Sociedad, Real Madrid also beaten

May 01, 2011 09:28 IST

Barcelona missed a chance to virtually wrap up a third straight La Liga title when they surrendered the lead and lost 2-1 at Real Sociedad Saturday.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho had rested key players including Cristiano Ronaldo in the earlier kickoff and saw his side beaten 3-2 at home by relegation-threatened Real Zaragoza.

Leaders Barca were looking in good shape for an 11-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid after Thiago Alcantara opened the scoring in the 29th minute in San Sebastian.

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However, Diego Ifran pounced on a loose ball to equalise for mid-table Sociedad with just under 20 minutes remaining and Xabi Prieto netted from the spot in the 82nd minute after substitute Javier Mascherano conceded a penalty.

The result, which meant Barca missed equalling Sociedad's record run of 32 La Liga games unbeaten in the 1979/80 season, leaves Pep Guardiola's side on 88 points from 34 matches.

Real, who beat Barca 1-0 to win a dramatic King's Cup final last week but lost 2-0 to the Catalans in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg, have 80 points in second.

If Real managed to draw level on points, Barca would win the title due to a superior head-to-head record.

They routed Real 5-0 at the Nou Camp in November and drew 1-1 at the Bernabeu earlier this month.

Source: REUTERS
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