“Barcelona maintained their impressive home record in the Primera Division with a 2-1 victory over Getafe – despite finishing the game with nine men following the dismissals of Gerard Pique and Rafael Marquez. Pique was sent off for a cynical lunge on Rafa Lopez after 24 minutes, although Barca were already a goal to the good by then, thanks to Lionel Messi’s brilliant early strike.” (ESPN)

Barca win despite two red cards, Real keep pace
“Leaders Barcelona survived red cards for Gerard Pique and Rafael Marquez to complete a 2-1 victory over Getafe in La Liga on Saturday while Real Madrid kept pace with a 3-0 win at home to Espanyol. Pique was sent off in the 25th minute for a wild challenge on Rafa Lopez. Marquez walked at the end after bundling over Kepa for a last-minute penalty scored by Roberto Soldado but the game was effectively over by then. Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the seventh minute and Xavi netted in the 67th as Barca continued to create the clearer chances despite their numerical disadvantage.” (Guardian)

Lionel Messi vs Getafe
(All About FC Barcelona), (1), (2)

“Pedro’s goal proved enough to give Barcelona their 16th league win of the season as Pep Guardiola’s side edged out Sporting Gijon at El Molinon in the Primera Division. The Tenerife-born winger struck after half an hour to give Barca the lead. Both sides had missed decent opportunities before that, but Guardiola’s side were superior virtually throughout.”>(ESPN)

Sporting Gijon vs Barca Highlights, on 30/01/10
(All About FC Barcelona)

Alfredo & co.
“In much of the world, professional sports serve as little more than a form of entertainment – a world of glorified, physically gifted athletes who are paid astronomical wages (although, based on the simple law of demand, rightfully so) to wow us with their trade. For most of us, the largely frivolous sphere of football rarely (if ever) comes into contact with the austere sphere of politics, the only exceptions being the presentation of an award to a national team or a charitable event.” (Soccer Lens)

“One of the most damning accusations spit at towards Real Madrid in recent times is their abuse of money. Over €250 million were splashed out this summer to recruit Neo-Galacticos and questions persist whether it is morally right to spend so much money on football – mere football, as some would suggest – when the world is subsumed in economic crisis. And true, president Florentino Perez’s persistence to spend huge to become huge is an apt indication of just how much money there is to make in football.” (Goal)