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Pedro powers Barcelona over Mallorca in Spain
By PAUL LOGOTHETIS
Associated Press
2009-11-08 04:01 AM
Pedro Rodriguez helped Barcelona rediscover its scoring touch Saturday as his two goals led the defending champions to a 4-2 win over Mallorca in the Spanish league.

Pedro curled a shot around Dudu Aouate to give Barcelona the lead in the 11th minute and then responded to Jose Nunes' 20th-minute equalizer by pouncing on a rebound just before halftime, after three straight saves by the Mallorca goalkeeper.

Thierry Henry headed home his first league goal of the season in the 44th and Lionel Messi scored a late penalty as Barcelona, coming off two low-key draws, ensured it stayed top of the table regardless of Real Madrid's result at Atletico Madrid later Saturday.

Barcelona has 26 points, Madrid has 22 while Deportivo La Coruna beat Getafe 2-0 to join Sevilla in third with 19 points. Valencia is next with 18, one ahead of Mallorca.

Miguel Angel "Mista" Ferrer scored a goal and set up Filipe Luis for the other as Deportivo ultimately hung on with nine men to continue its impressive start to the season with a 2-0 win at Getafe.

Also Saturday, Malaga rallied to draw 2-2 against Tenerife.

Coach Pep Guardiola left regulars Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez on the bench to start as Barcelona came into the game on the heels of a scoreless Champions League draw at Rubin Kazan and a 1-1 result at Osasuna last weekend.

Pedro opened after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had delivered an exquisite backheel pass to put him through into the area for a clear shot.

Barcelona's defense was at fault for the equalizer, as Gerard Pique failed to clear a Mallorca corner that Nunes headed home.

Aouate could only shake his head in disbelief after Pedro's second as the Israel keeper denied successive shots from Pedro, Henry and Sergio Busquet before failing to stop the last effort.

Henry jumped to in a cross before Ibrahimovic was tripped up inside the area in the 87th to force the spot kick. Messi joined his Swedish teammate atop the league scoring charts with his seventh goal.

Xavi and Iniesta also eventually appeared in the second half, with Xavi matching Carles Rexach's 328 appearances for the Catalan club _ the second most all-time.

Substitute Alhassane Keita was free in the area to score Mallorca's second goal in the second minute of injury time.

Mista, a surprise starter, streaked into the area in the 13th minute to head Luis' cross from the left past goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.

Deportivo was reduced to 10 men in the 27th after Ivan "Riki" Sanchez picked up a second booking for a deliberate handball that incensed coach Miguel Angel Lotina, who was eventually sent from the touchline in the 34th.

Mista was clear in the box when Andres Guardado's shot rolled to him in the 59th, and the Spanish striker passed to Luis to slot home.

Deportivo played with nine men for the last 18 minutes after Sergio Gonzalez was sent off.

In the rain at Tenerife, Roman Martinez scored against the run of play in the 18th before Alejandro Alfaro doubled the hosts lead in the 27th.

But Edinho Arnaldo began the Malaga rally two minutes later, and Javi Lopez equalzed in the 77th.

Sunday's 10th round of games include: Sevilla vs. Villarreal; Valencia vs. Zaragoza; Valladolid vs. Xerez; Sporting Gijon vs. Espanyol; Racing Santander vs. Athletic Club; and Almeria vs. Osasuna.

 
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