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Sunday 18 December 2011

Silva's City still on top As Barca on top of world

Manchester City maintained their 100% home record and a two-point lead at the top with an absorbing 1-0 victory over Arsenal at Eastlands.
David Silva's goal (53) inflicted a first league defeat on the Gunners since 2 October and took City back above Manchester United, who had briefly topped the table following their win at QPR.
Arsene Wenger's side were unrecognisable from the one hammered 8-2 on their last visit to the city, and it took the hosts' very best to avoid a second slip-up in six days after the defeat at Chelsea.
The teams went hammer and tongs from the start, Sergio Aguero spurning chances either side of Wojciech Szczesny's fine stop from Mario Balotelli, while Joe Hart kept out Gervinho and Aaron Ramsey at the other end.
The breakthrough came after the restart, Silva swiping home from three yards after Szczesny's save from Balotelli fell his way via Thomas Vermaelen's boot, but almost immediately Theo Walcott forced Hart to tip over.
The relentless rhythm persisted, Robin van Persie failing to catch cleanly a close-range chance and Pablo Zabaleta belting an upright as City threatened repeatedly on the counter-attack.
The second goal would not come, though, and Vermaelen twice went close from distance as Arsenal retained a menace until the end.


Lionel Messi enjoyed another excellent day at the office as Barcelona cruised to their second World Club Championship title in three years, beating Santos 4-0 in a one-sided final in Japan.
The little superstar produced another all-round display as the European champions steam-rolled the Brazilian side at the Yokohama Stadium in Tokyo.
With the Spanish giants controlling matters from the off, Messi needed just 16 minutes to stamp his authority and open the scoring.
Messi started and finished the intricate move as he played a one-two with Xavi before chipping the ball over a diving Rafael Cabral.
By the 24th minute it was 2-0, with Xavi clinically converting from 12 yards to finish off another excellent passing move.
And it remained one-way traffic with Cesc Fabregas striking a post when it appeared easier to score.
Yet Fabregas made amends on the stroke of half-time, as tapped home from close range following a scramble.
Barcelona continued to dominate after the break: Cabral tipped away a Fabregas effort just 40 seconds into the second half while Andres Iniesta flashed an effort wide and Dani Alves struck a post.
As Barca relaxed their grip, Santos enjoyed a handful of forays into their opponent's box only to find keeper Victor Valdes equally as confident.
And with nine minutes remaining it was 4-0: Alves fed Messi who waltzed around Cabral before side-footing the ball into an empty net.

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