Primera División

Article

Pique happy to make winning return

12 November 2012 06:20

Gerard Pique revealed his delight at returning to the Barcelona first team in the 4-2 win over Mallorca.

The 25-year old has been sidelined with a foot injury since Barca's 3-2 victory over Spartak Moscow two months ago, but the Spain international came through the entire 90 minutes unscathed.

"I felt really good," he told reporters after the game.

"If you don't play for a long time then you always have some doubts about your fitness, but I felt very good and I'm delighted to win.

"We had a difficult period in the second-half, but overall we controlled the match."

Goals from Xavi, Cristian Tello and a Lionel Messi double ensured the Catalan club retained their three-point advantage over Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga.

Info

Mallorca

W L D L D

2 - 4

Barcelona

W W W L D

Competition

Half-time: 0 - 3
Full-time: 2 - 4

Venue: Iberostar Estadi (Palma de Mallorca)
Attendance: 15500

Goals

	0 - 1	28' Xavi
	0 - 2	44' L. Messi (assist by Busquets)
	0 - 3	45' Tello (assist by Fàbregas)
M. Pereira 55' (assist by Víctor)	1 - 3
Víctor (PG) 58'	2 - 3
	2 - 4	70' L. Messi (assist by A. Sánchez)

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
13	D. Aouate
14	Pedro Geromel
4	Anderson Conceição
27	Ximo
17	Pedro Bigas
19	Jose Martí	27'
5	Pina
7	M. Pereira	55'
18	Víctor	58'
8	Nsue
10	T. Hemed
Coach: Joaquín Caparrós

#	Player	Bookings
1	Valdés
2	Dani Alves
3	Piqué
18	Jordi Alba
14	J. Mascherano
4	Fàbregas
6	Xavi	28'
16	Busquets	58'
10	L. Messi	44' 70'
7	David Villa
37	Tello	45'
Coach: Tito Vilanova

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
21	Alfaro for T. Hemed 46'
24	Fontàs for Jose Martí 73'
35	Marc Fernández for Ximo 82'
1	Calatayud
22	Arizmendi
23	Kevin
37	Brandon

#	Player	Bookings
9	A. Sánchez for David Villa 66'
15	Bartra for J. Mascherano 84'
19	Martín Montoya for Jordi Alba 87'
8	Iniesta
13	Pinto
17	Pedro
25	A. Song

Sunday 26 May

08:10	Costa Rica Primera Division: Herediano 3 Cartagines 1 (agg 4-4, Herediano won 5-4 on pens)
06:08	Andreazzoli targets landmark triumph
04:52	Subotic rues missed opportunities
04:24	City hold off Chelsea at Yankee Stadium
04:05	Ribery revels in overdue triumph
03:39	Neymar announces Barca switch
03:28	Hoeness hails Bayern´s ´insane season´
03:15	Beaten Weidenfeller holds head high
02:54	Mauri awaits career highlight
02:39	Robben relieved to net winner
01:28	Klopp, Dortmund vow to recover
01:20	Heynckes may delay retirement
00:06	Matchwinner Robben hails ´special feeling´

Saturday 25 May

22:44	UEFA Champions League team of the season
22:44	UEFA Champions League: Borussia Dortmund 1 Bayern Munich 2
22:42	Ancelotti: No Real Madrid contact
22:41	Roura calms statue row
20:24	Eredivisie Preview: Utrecht v Twente
19:41	Adams calls for Arsenal defensive reinforcements
19:22	Aguero pens Man City extension
19:19	UAE Pro-League Wrap: Al Ain secure victory as Al Shaab secure safety
18:51	Pellegrini tight-lipped on future
18:40	Keane: Galaxy need confidence
18:09	Wechsel zu Atletico? Patrick Ebert will Champions League spielen
17:43	J.League Wrap: Omiya Ardija stay top, Yokohama keep pressure on
16:43	Jones aims for full pre-season
16:20	Gerrard hails ´unbelievable´ Carragher
16:16	Lavezzi wants Rooney to join PSG revolution
16:07	Beckham´s MLS plans stalled
15:25	Heynckes lauds Robben
15:24	Michu aims for improvements at Swansea
14:51	Zidane unsurprised by all-German Champions League final
14:33	Hummels hopeful Dortmund success will stop exodus
14:09	Lescott keen to move forward
13:58	Cavani concentrating on Napoli
13:34	Deeney looks to pay back support
12:35	Fernandes: We got it wrong at QPR
12:01	Lampard wants new Terry deal
11:44	Le Fondre: Reading have improved under Adkins
11:17	Yanga-Mbiwa focused on improvement
11:14	Zidane: Bale is in world´s top three players
11:09	Championship Preview: Crystal Palace v Watford
09:13	Aguero plans to honour City contract
05:44	Mourinho return excites Ba
04:34	Polish Ekstraklasa: Widzew Lodz 1 Legia Warsaw 1
04:14	Oezil keen to stay at Real
04:09	De Rossi pleads for peaceful final
03:42	Chelsea, Galatasaray vie for Turan
03:25	Ballack predicts a Bayern victory
03:13	Santos accept Neymar bids
02:27	Atletico plot Negredo swoop
01:46	La Liga Preview: Espanyol v Barcelona
00:19	Valbuena: My best season so far

Friday 24 May

22:23	Blackburn give Bowyer permanent role
21:50	Dortmund can get better, insists Klopp
21:33	Fernandes: No Caterham exit plans
21:11	Inter appoint Mazzarri, sack Stramaccioni
20:42	Benitez in Napoli link
20:17	Adams signs new Ross County deal
19:39	Heynckes: Bayern are extraordinary
19:01	Platini: European sports police needed
18:12	Taylor calls on Coloccini to stay
18:06	Verratti is going nowhere, says agent
17:56	Neymar set to leave Santos ´within 10 days´
17:51	Gill expects Rooney stay
17:44	Departing Cole thanks West Ham fans
16:59	Shechter grateful for Swansea support
16:44	Townsend charged over betting rules
16:43	Reading release six players
16:41	Monaco splash out for Moutinho, Rodriguez
16:32	Rummenigge: Bayern not complacent
16:07	Giroud seeks improvement
16:04	Palermo chief welcomes bids for Ilicic
16:03	AZ bolster defensive stocks
16:00	Lambert: Benteke needs to stay at Villa
15:52	Andreolli poised for Inter return
15:22	Bianchi: Boca players tired
15:05	Cech: Mourinho a great manager
14:52	Blatter outlines racism resolution aim
14:37	Manchester City players coy on Pellegrini
14:14	Marseille priced out of Damiao move
13:55	McAuley: West Brom could have done more
13:52	Osman extends Everton stay
13:43	Stoke reject N´Zonzi transfer request
13:19	Carragher retirement ´sad´, says Mourinho
12:58	Manolev happy to help
12:37	Europa league winners to get Champions League spot
11:22	First goal bittersweet for Azpilicueta
11:06	La Liga Preview: Real Sociedad v Real Madrid
10:54	La Liga Preview: Pressure on for Euro spots
10:46	Ligue 1 Preview: Victory only hope for Troyes
10:40	MLS preview: Second place up for grabs
10:37	Coentrao heading for Real exit
10:26	Coppa Italia Preview: Roma v Lazio
10:02	Ligue 1 Preview: Lorient v PSG
08:56	Malaga win was catalyst, says Klopp
07:10	Milan finalise Zapata switch
07:01	Montella braced for Jovetic departure
06:20	Simeone will not block Falcao exit
05:58	Van Gaal talks down Netherlands´ chances
05:49	Coupet doubts Monaco´s potential
05:47	Man City edge Chelsea in thrilling friendly
05:41	Torres wants Mourinho at Chelsea
04:57	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Atletico Mineiro snatch late draw
04:49	Galliani dismisses Berlusconi row reports
04:37	San Lorenzo renew Coloccini pursuit
04:29	Benteke sparks fears of Villa exit
04:27	Weidenfeller: We can be heroes
04:18	Injured Messi called up by Argentina
04:13	Cleverley taking inspiration from Spain
03:16	Kellermann proud of resilient Wolfsburg
03:05	Robben hails dominant Germany
02:49	Europe the benchmark for Zaccheroni´s Japan
01:39	Osieck backs Schwarzer to shine

Primera División table

#	Team	MP	D	P
1	Barcelona	36	+70	94
2	Real Madrid	36	+59	81
3	Atlético Madrid	36	+32	72
4	Real Sociedad	36	+20	62
5	Valencia	36	+13	62
6	Málaga	36	+4	54
7	Real Betis	36	-3	52
8	Rayo Vallecano	36	-17	49
9	Sevilla	36	+4	47
10	Getafe	36	-11	47
11	Espanyol	36	-6	44
12	Athletic Club	36	-20	44
13	Real Valladolid	36	-5	43
14	Levante	36	-18	42
15	Granada	36	-18	39
16	Osasuna	36	-16	36
17	Deportivo La C…	36	-20	35
18	Real Zaragoza	36	-19	34
19	Mallorca	36	-31	32
20	Celta de Vigo	36	-18	31

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