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MADRID - Barcelona showed the spirit of champions playing for over an hour with ten men as they defeated Getafe 2-1 at Camp Nou on Saturday to temporarily move eight points clear of Real Madrid at top of the Spanish Primera Liga.
Barcelona had taken a fifth-minute lead with Lionel Messi curling in a brilliant effort for his 16th goal of the season but defender Gerard Pique got a straight red card on 25 minutes for a late lunge to complicate matters.
Barca rode out the storm for a fifth consecutive win with Messi setting up Xavi for the second goal on 66 minutes and it proved crucial as Roberto Soldado scored a penalty in stoppage time.
Real Madrid can close the gap back to five points later on Saturday providing they can beat Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Getafe match was special for midfielder Andres Iniesta who made his 200th league appearance for Barca.
For Argentine centre-back Gaby Milito it was a first league start of the season as he continues his recovery following serious cruciate ligament injuries.
With just five minutes gone Barca took the lead with Messi wrapping his left foot around the ball and his bending shot flew in.
A second goal looked a matter of time but Pique then lost his cool on 25 minutes lunging at Rafa Gomez and the referee had no hesitation in reaching for the red card.
Getafe almost scored from the resulting free-kick which was missed by everyone and almost crept in.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic should have made it 2-0 late in the first half for 10-man Barca but his goalbound shot was cleared by the alert Rafa.
Ibrahimovic has not scored in 2010 and made way early in the second half with defensive midfielder Sergi Busquets taking his place.
Despite being one man less Barca created chances and Seydou Keita missed a sitter on the hour mark putting his shot wide from close range.
Fortunately for Keita it didn't prove costly with Messi showing great balance and control to set up Xavi who stayed onside and made no mistake to score on 66 minutes.
Rafa Marquez was sent off in the closing stages for giving away a penalty which Roberto Soldado converted but Barca took the spoils.
Getafe must dust themselves down for Wednesday's Kings Cup semi-final test against Sevilla trailing 2-0 from the first leg.
Earlier Valencia triumphed 2-0 at home over Valladolid, moving them six points clear of fourth-placed Sevilla.
The win ends a miserable run for Valencia, who had picked up just one point from their six previous games before this match.
"We should have won by a bigger margin," said Valencia coach Unai Emery. "We found it difficult at home in the first half of the season but little by little we are improving and making our fans happy."
For Valladolid's new coach Onesimo Sanchez, who replaced the sacked Jose Luis Mendilibar, it was a disappointing start in his first game in charge and the club now lie a point above the relegation zone without a win in 2010.
Valencia's Argentine midfielder, Ever Banega, took advantage of a defensive mishap to thunder in an early opener after eight minutes.
Spanish international David Villa made it two for Unai Emery's men by heading home on 29 minutes, notching up his 15th goal of the season.
- AFP /ls
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