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* Real two points behind leaders Barca after 2-0 win

* Valencia held 0-0 at home by Sporting

* Aguero fires Atletico to 1-0 victory (Adds details, quote, Atletico win)

By Mark Elkington

MADRID, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho’s nine-year unbeaten home record in league matches was never under threat as his side eased past Levante 2-0 on Saturday to close within two points of La Liga leaders Barcelona.

The Portuguese coach last suffered a league defeat in front of his own fans when Porto lost to visiting Beira Mar on Feb. 23, 2002 and since then he has gone unbeaten in 148 games with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real.

His 100 percent home record since arriving at the Bernabeu moved on to 12 wins from 12 with first-half goals from Karim Benzema and Ricardo Carvalho that put Real on 60 points.

Pep Guardiola’s side host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday after suffering a league draw and a Champions League defeat over the past week, but Mourinho was not in the mood for mind games.

“I don’t know if I’ll watch Barca v Athletic, I’ll probably have dinner with my family because we go to Lyon on Monday,” Mourinho told reporters.

“I can’t influence that game. The pressure is for the team who are second, that’s us, not the team who are first.”

Third-placed Valencia slipped further behind on 48 points after they were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Sporting Gijon earlier on Saturday.

In the late game, Sergio Aguero scored a superb solo effort to earn Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win at Real Zaragoza that ended a run of four straight defeats.

Zaragoza hit the bar in the closing minutes but Atletico hung on to climb to seventh with 33 points.

REPEAT FEARED

Real were without suspended goalkeeper Iker Casillas and rested the likes of Pepe, Mesut Ozil and Xabi Alonso ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League last 16 trip to Olympique Lyon, but still took the lead after only six minutes through Benzema.

Levante suffered an 8-0 drubbing in the King’s Cup on their last visit to the Bernabeu two months ago and must have feared a repeat performance.

France striker Benzema had opened the scoring in the same minute back in December and this time he simply provided the finish after some great wing play from Angel Di Maria, who had skipped between three defenders before crossing.

Levante appeared more concerned with avoiding another mauling than getting back into the game and Real’s second did not arrive until just before the break when Carvalho turned in Cristiano Ronaldo’s freekick from close range.

Real’s youth team goalkeeper Antonio Adan, making his first start for the side, barely touched the ball.

“These games before Champions League matches are always difficult because people aren’t focused, especially against a team who lost by a large margin the last time they visited,” Mourinho added.

“We got an early goal and from then were able to control the game.”

At the Mestalla, Sporting, who had ended Barca’s 16-match winning streak with a 1-1 draw last weekend, put in another disciplined display to deny Valencia.

Unai Emery’s side were feeling the effects of a midweek Champions League 1-1 draw at home to Schalke 04 and failed to put much pressure on Sporting’s goal until the final minutes.

A fierce drive from substitute Jonas straight at the keeper at the end sealed a frustrating night for the home side who had striker Aritz Aduriz carried off with an ankle injury.

(Writing by Mark Elkington; Editing by Sonia Oxley and Ken Ferris; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: Barca, close, Cruise, Leaders, Reuters

* Pato puts Milan ahead but Floro Flores equalises

* Napoli win and Lazio draw before Inter v Roma

(adds quotes)

MILAN, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Serie A leaders AC Milan slipped up for the second straight game in a 1-1 draw at Genoa on Sunday which opened the door for Napoli to cut the gap at the top to three points. Surprise packages Napoli failed to take advantage when Milan drew 0-0 with Lazio in midweek when they lost at Chievo but red-hot striker Edinson Cavani helped make sure they did this time in a 2-0 home victory over lowly Cesena.

The Uruguayan, Serie A’s top scorer with 18 goals, converted Christian Maggio’s cross in the first half against second-bottom Cesena before Jose Sosa netted in stoppage time.

“We must improve our continuity,” Cavani told Sky TV.

Champions Inter Milan, in fourth, host last term’s runners-up AS Roma later (1945 GMT) and can move within five of Milan if they win while also having another game in hand.

Milan’s Alexandre Pato, preferred to Antonio Cassano upfront, latched on to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s pass to give the visitors a 29th-minute lead but Genoa forward Antonio Floro Flores struck home a loose ball just before the break.

Milan’s midfield was almost back to full strength after injuries and suspension but the hosts defended stoutly and deserved their point, with Rossoneri fans now fretting that a first scudetto since 2004 does not look as clearcut as before.

“We knew it wouldn’t be easy against Genoa,” Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said, adding that Cassano was still not fully fit after missing three months of action.

“We were unlucky with their equaliser and in the second half we didn’t play well, we gave away too many balls.

“We know the championship is long. Napoli don’t have any pressure, they are not obliged to win.”

LAZIO HELD

Tensions were high at the Marassi given the game was the first time since the death of a supporter 16 years ago in crowd trouble that Milan fans had been allowed to the encounter.

Scuffles between fans were reported but nothing major.

Third-placed Lazio missed the chance to pressure Milan themselves with a 1-1 home draw with Chievo.

Hernanes put the Romans in front with a ferocious freekick deep into first-half stoppage time but Cesar equalised.

Palermo lie just two points behind Lazio in fifth following a thrilling 4-2 win at struggling Lecce.

Previously struggling on-loan Juventus forward Amauri superbly netted his first Parma goal in a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina, who had Adrian Mutu back for the first time since being banished for quitting training last month.

Third-bottom Brescia won the relegation battle with basement side Bari, Alessandro Diamanti netting a penalty and Andrea Caracciolo an injury-time strike in a 2-0 victory which puts eight points between the two sides.

Bologna beat Catania 1-0 to send the Sicilians closer to the drop zone with new coach Diego Simeone failing to stop a slide.

Juventus ended their bad run with a 3-1 victory at Cagliari on Saturday when Alessandro Matri scored twice against his former club while Udinese continued their ascent with a 2-0 win over toothless Sampdoria. (Writing by Mark Meadows; Editing by Justin Palmer; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: Again, close, Milan, Napoli, points, Reuters