Xavi rescues point for Barca at Sevilla

By Mark Elkington

MADRID (Reuters) - Second-placed Barcelona failed to keep the pressure on leaders Real Madrid after scrambling a 1-1 draw at Sevilla in the Primera Liga on Saturday.

Barca had a chance to move to within three points of Real, who host Valladolid on Sunday, but faced an uphill battle after Diego Capel put an impressive Sevilla ahead in the first half.

They improved after the break and 14 minutes from time Xavi equalised to leave the Catalans on 48 points, five short of Real.

"Real are the strongest team at the moment. We are in three competitions and have to concentrate on getting our own work done. We have to keep on working hard and accumulating points," Barca coach Frank Rijkaard said.

Earlier on Saturday, Guillermo Franco snatched a goal in added time for Villarreal to give them a 1-0 victory at lowly Real Murcia. They climbed to third with 42 points.

Murcia had the better of a poor game until Mexican striker Franco, who appeared to be offside, controlled a ball over the top and slipped it past furious home goalkeeper Antonio Notario in the final minute.

In Saturday's other game, Nigeria striker Ikechukwu Uche rescued a point for Getafe in a 1-1 draw at Deportivo Coruna.

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