Barca go eight clear as Bojan celebrates landmark

Bojan Krkic marked his 100th Barcelona league appearance with a goal as the champions moved eight points clear of Real Madrid at the Spanish first division summit with a nervy 2-1 home win over Getafe on Saturday.

The 20-year-old Bojan made it two goals in as many games with a 49th minute strike to celebrate his landmark as he became the third youngest player in league history to reach a century of league appearances.

Brazilian Dani Alves had opened the scoring on 16 minutes with a thunderous volley from distance before Bojan netted as Barcelona made it 12 straight league home wins, although they had to survive an agonising last few minutes after Manu del Moral had pulled a goal back in the 87th minute.

Real Madrid can close the gap back to five points with victory at derby rivals Atletico Madrid later on Saturday.

Atletico have lost three times to Real this season, twice in the Kings Cup and once in the league, and have not beaten their neighbours since 1999.

With seven minutes gone Lionel Messi collected a Xavi pass on his chest but his acrobatic overhead kick was blocked by goalkeeper Jordi Codina.

The visitors were growing in confidence but were then undone by a goal from nothing as Alves unleashed a ferocious volley from distance on 16 minutes.

The Brazilian showed great timing to half volley the dropping ball from 25 metres and his swerving shot flew past Codina into the corner.

It was a second league goal of the season and first since late October for Alves as he showed why Barcelona are keen to extend his contract.

In the 22nd minute the Camp Nou supporters were on their feet to give a minute's applause for their defender Eric Abidal, who wears the number 22 shirt, as the 31-year-old French star recovers from successful surgery on a tumour on his liver.

David Villa should have scored a second for the hosts on 31 minutes after a delightful dummy from Andres Iniesta had set him up, but the Spanish World Cup star delayed his shot and the effort was blocked.

A minute later Getafe squandered a glorious chance to equalise with Javi Casquero firing straight at Victor Valdes from close range after Barca had failed to deal with a cross from the left.

Villa spurned another chance two minutes before the break firing wide after Getafe failed to deal with a long ball over the top.

Four minutes after the break Barcelona got the second goal they wanted thanks to a fortunate deflection.

Adriano stole possession and the ball eventually found its way to Bojan whose shot deflected off Cata Diaz and nestled into the bottom corner.

Villa's nightmare continued as he missed two more gilt-edged chances in the second half, while Getafe also were wasteful in front of goal.

Manu del Moral scored a terrific volley on 87 minutes to give Barcelona a fright and the champions were holding on in stoppage time with Juan Albin almost equalising at the death.

Earlier Real Mallorca moved four points off the top six with a Jonathan de Guzman free-kick sealing a 1-0 home win over 10-man Real Zaragoza on Saturday.

Dutch midfielder de Guzman curled in a 67th minute free-kick from the edge of the penalty area after Zaragoza had been reduced to ten men following the dismissal of goalkeeper Antonio Doblas.

Mallorca's eighth home win of the campaign boosts their European hopes, while Zaragoza hover four points above the relegation zone.