Barcelona gamers have a good time on the finish of a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Villarreal and Barcelona, on the Ceramica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AP
Barcelona retains on profitable on the high of the Spanish league and transferring additional away from Real Madrid.
Barcelona beat Villarreal 1-0 on the street on Sunday to increase its profitable streak to 11 matches in all competitions and its lead over second-place Madrid to 11 factors.
Madrid, which gained the Club World Cup on Saturday, has performed a recreation lower than Barcelona.
“There is nothing decided yet, there is still a lot of league left,” Barcelona coach Xavi stated.
“But we are happy because we are on a great run, doing things well.”
It was the sixteenth clear sheet for Barcelona in 21 league matches this season.
Pedri scored within the 18th minute for Barcelona, whose 1-1 draw towards Espanyol within the league on December 31 was the final time it did not win. The 11-game streak has included beating Real Betis on penalties within the Spanish Super Cup and an extra-time victory within the Copa del Rey towards Intercity.
It was the third straight loss for eighth-place Villarreal, which has just one win in its final six matches in all competitions. Its earlier defeat was at last-place Elche, which had been winless within the league.
Villarreal began the sport with out injured striker Gerard Moreno, and it misplaced midfielder Francis Coquelin with a knee damage within the first half. The Frenchman needed to be carried off the sector on a stretcher.
Barcelona was taking part in with out captain Sergio Busquets and winger Ousmane Dembélé due to accidents. Xavi used midfielder Frenkie de Jong and ahead Raphinha of their locations.
Defender Marcos Alonso began on the bench just a few days after the loss of life of his father, former Barcelona participant Marcos Alonso.
Barcelona subsequent hosts Manchester United within the Europa League on Thursday.
Depay, Oblak lead Atletico to win
Memphis Depay scored within the 88th minute for his first aim since becoming a member of from Barcelona as 10-man Atletico Madrid gained 1-0 at Celta Vigo to remain fourth within the ultimate Champions League spot.
Atletico wanted an excellent efficiency from goalkeeper Jan Oblak and a few assist from the woodwork after defender Stefan Savic was despatched off within the seventieth.
Atletico opened a four-point hole to fifth-place Betis with its third win in 4 league matches. Celta, which was coming off two straight wins, dropped to 14th.
“It was a tough match, we knew Celta was going through a good moment,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone stated.
“In the end, Oblak helped us again and Memphis came through in a very important match for us.” Depay scored from inside the world for his first aim with Atletico since arriving in a switch from Barcelona in January.
Oblak made two excellent stops after Savic was despatched off, together with a reflex save on the aim line within the eighty fifth.
Veteran Celta striker Iago Aspas hit the crossbar from the free kick that got here after Savic’s purple card for stopping a breakaway.
Midfielder Koke Resurrección made his 402nd look with Atletico within the league, surpassing the membership mark by former midfielder Adelardo Rodríguez.
Getafe recovers
Second-to-last Getafe earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw towards Rayo Vallecano because of a 77th-minute equalizer by Enes Unal and Rayo striker Raúl de Tomás failing to attain from the penalty spot within the 87th, solely 4 minutes after coming into the match.
Getafe, winless in seven consecutive matches in all competitions, performed with 10 males from the 54th after Carles Aleñá was despatched off with a second yellow card.
Getafe striker Borja Mayoral additionally failed to attain with a penalty kick shortly earlier than Aleña was despatched off.
Rayo, which had gained three of its final 4 league matches, dropped to sixth place with the away draw.
Osasuna held to attract once more
Osasuna’s winless streak within the league reached 4 matches after a 0-0 draw at Thirteenth-place Valladolid, which was coming off two straight victories following 5 consecutive losses in all competitions.
Osasuna, which stayed ninth, has just one win in its final eight league matches.
On Monday, third-place Real Sociedad visits relegation-threatened Espanyol seeking to finish a three-game winless streak and transfer nearer to second-place Madrid.
Source web site: www.thehindu.com
