Could the unthinkable be happening? After dominating the first half of the season so comprehensively that people were scrambling for the record books, could Barcelona be unravelling in the second? Throwing away a 12 point cushion? Ending up living up to the "chokers" tag that the Madridistas deride them with?

Having clawed their way back from 0-2 down agasint Real Betis to salvage a point, they have now lost to local rivals Espanyol. Conceding twice from an ex Barca player - Ivan De La Pena early in the second half in the 50th and 54th minutes. By then, they were already down to 10 men, having had Seydou Keita sent off late in the first half. Yaya Toure's goal proved to be just a consolation, as the points went to Espanyol. Barca's defensive weaknesses came to the fore here, as first Pena was left unguarded at the far post for the opener. And then Victor Valdez made a dreadful mistake in playing a pass under pressure straight to Pena, who lobbed the goal-keeper comfortably.

Its hard to say what would have hurt more. The loss to local rivals? The erosion of their points cushion at the top? May be. But more likely it would be the uncomfortable spectre of a repeat of 2006-07 as Real Madrid chose this same day to step up their game in stark contrast.

In typical strikers fashion, having opened his scoring, Huntelaar promptly took two more, as Raul chipped in with a couple. While Higuain & Sergio Ramos continued their impressiv
e season by adding a coal each. Thus Betis, who held Barca to a creditable draw last weekend, found themselves blown off the park by Madrid.

Juande Ramos, who first steadied Madrid with a series of steady displays seems to be teaching them how to spread their wings. There is life in the La Liga title race after all!

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