Barcelona beats Real to drop champs 12 points back

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12/13/2008 - Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Samuel Eto'o made up for a missed penalty, scoring his 15th goal of the season in the 83rd minute and Lio Messi added the clinching goal in stoppage time as Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 2-0 at rainy Camp Nou on Saturday in Spain's La Liga.

Barcelona extended its lead atop La Liga to eight points and pushed its lead on two-time defending champion Real Madrid to 12 points. Barca's 20-match unbeaten run in all competitions ended Wednesday in the Champions League, but its league win streak is now at 14.

Real Madrid remained fifth, but could drop two more spots Sunday when the rest of the league plays. New Real coach Juande Ramos won his debut with Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, but lost his league debut.

Real goalie Iker Casillas, who didn't start in the win over Zenit St Petersburg earlier this week, surely wasn't to blame for the loss.

Casillas denied Messi with a diving save in the sixth minute, then had a blast from Thierry Henry well covered at the bottom left corner a minute later and he let the ball whiz by the post. Casillas had another stop on Messi in the 16th.

Although not as busy, Barca goalie Vctor Valdes made a big save midway through the first half to deny Royston Drenthe on a breakaway.

Casillas regained the spotlight later in the match, diving to his left to save a penalty kick from Eto'o in the 70th. Barcelona youngster Sergi Busquets drew the penalty, but the veteran Eto'o fired a few yards inside the right post and Casillas dove to knock the hard shot wide.

Minutes later, Casillas made two more great saves. He first denied a long blast from Eto'o and then scurried to his feet to turn away Messi from close range - even though the Argentine superstar was ruled offside.

Valdes came up with another big stop in the 78th, saving a close-range effort from Palanca to keep the game scoreless.

Barcelona finally broke through in the 83rd off a corner kick from Xavi. Carles Puyol won the corner kick with a leaping header, which he directed to the feet of Eto'o. The Cameroon striker directed the ball over the line, a split-second before Palanca could clear it out.

Henry set Messi up for the clinching goal, springing him into the left side of the box. Messi chipped the ball over Casillas and just by Fabio Cannavaro, who slammed into the post trying to prevent the goal. Messi's goal was his 10th of the season.

Also Saturday, Raul Albiol and Vicente scored in the second half as Valencia rallied to beat 10-man Espanyol. Valencia moved into second, one point ahead of idle Villarreal.

On Sunday, Sevilla hosts Villarreal in a clash of top-four clubs, Atletico Madrid hosts Real Betis, Valladolid hosts Deportivo, Recreativo hosts Osasuna, Getafe hosts Mallorca, Athletic Bilbao hosts Sporting Gijon, Almeria hosts Racing and Malaga hosts Numancia.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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