Level playing field

Barcelona and Real Madrid are doing their bit to refute suggestions that Spanish football is turning into a predictable two-horse race. Both sides dropped points last night, with Barcelona fortunate to secure a 2-2 draw at Valencia, while Madrid were held to a goalless draw at Racing Santander. The results leave the reigning champions in 4th spot in La Liga while Jose Mourinho’s Real sit uncomfortably in 7th spot.

Naturally, Mourinho was magnanimity personified after watching his fail to win or score for the second successive match.

“It’s less worrisome to draw a match in which you’re the only side that tries to play and win, said Mr Charm.

Following Sunday’s defeat to Levante, Mourinho complained about the opponents’ underhand tactics. True to form, he levelled the same accusations against Racing.

“The pace was broken by simulation, by injuries, by the stretcher coming onto the pitch,” he said. “We’re responsible for this because we failed to put a stop to it.”