Barcelona edge Zaragoza 1-0 in Spain

BARCELONA, Spain (AP):

Barcelona beat Zaragoza 1-0 on a first-half goal by Seydou Keita, to provisionally move 10 points clear of second-place Real Madrid in the Spanish league yesterday.

Keita scored what proved to be the winner for the defending champions two minutes before half-time, tapping in a pass from Lionel Messi from close range.

The Catalan side could have easily won by a more comfortable margin, but Zaragoza goalkeeper Antonio Doblas made a number of excellent saves in the first half to keep his team close.

With their fourth straight win, Barcelona extended their unbeaten streak to 25 league matches, one shy of the club record set in 1973-74.

Coach Pep Guardiola was on the sideline after doubts that severe back pain would force him to miss the match. David Villa and Andres Iniesta joined him with their Champions League last-16 return leg game against Arsenal looming on Tuesday.

Only chance

Zaragoza's only chance in the first half came in the eighth minute when Nicolas Bertolo used his pace to get by Gabi Milito - starting for the injured Carlos Puyol - but Gerard Pique recovered to cut off his progress.

Otherwise, the hosts dominated, winning 77 per cent of possession in the first half and pressing Zaragoza into their own area.

Doblas blocked long strikes by Pedro Rodriguez, Xavi Hernandez and Javier Mascherano, and Keita had a goal waved off for offside in the 29th, before Messi manufactured Barcelona's opener.

The Argentina star dribbled by two defenders to the end line before crossing back to Keita for his league-best 15th assist. Messi has 21 assists overall in this campaign to go with his 43 goals in 39 games.

Both sides had scoring chances after the restart.

Fired wide

Bertolo fired wide in the 51st after cutting back against Pique who, in turn, had a shot cleared off the line by Zaragoza's Ander Herrera six minutes later.

Barcelona goalie Victor Valdes - back after missing three games with an injury - bettered striker Florent Sinama Pongolle in a one-on-one situation in the 62nd.

Zaragoza have lost six straight to Barcelona and remained two points above the drop.

Elsewhere, Pablo Hernandez scored twice to rally Valencia to a 2-1 win at Mallorca.

Ivan Ramis got Mallorca's 30th-minute opener from the penalty spot after Valencia defender Ricardo Costa fouled Pierre Webo.

Hernandez equalised three minutes later with a volley from the edge of the area and he fired home a pass from Jonas Goncalves in the 56th to give Valencia the win.