With one other purpose by Robert Lewandowski and one more victory, Barcelona reached the 50-point mark and continued to point out its energy going into the second half of the Spanish league.
Lewandowski ended his scoring drought within the league to assist Barcelona defeat Real Betis 2-1 and enhance its lead over Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Lewandowski sealed Barcelona’s sixth straight victory in all competitions together with his first league purpose since October. He is the league’s main scorer with 14 targets. The Poland striker was making his return from a three-game suspension for disrespecting a referee in a match final yr.
Raphinha opened the scoring for Barcelona, which now’s eight factors in entrance of second-place Madrid forward of the rival’s dwelling match towards Valencia on Thursday.
“We played a great match,” Barcelona coach Xavi stated. “We are satisfied with the result and with how we played. We played well against a good team in a tough stadium.”
Barcelona gained the league 4 occasions after reaching 50 factors or extra via 19 rounds. It solely didn’t carry the trophy in that state of affairs in 2013-14.
“We are going through a good moment,” Raphinha stated. “The points are a result of our effort. We remain confident for the rest of the season.”
Both midweek video games involving Barcelona and Madrid had been postponed from January due to the groups’ participation within the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. Barcelona defeated Betis in a penalty shootout within the semifinals earlier than ultimately successful the ultimate towards Madrid. Madrid performed Valencia within the different semifinal, additionally advancing in a shootout.
It was Betis’ sixth straight league loss at dwelling towards Barcelona, which has gained eight straight if counting the shootout win over Betis within the Super Cup.
Betis stayed in sixth place within the league, 19 factors behind Barcelona. It is three factors behind fourth-place Atletico Madrid within the ultimate Champions League place. Manuel Pellegrini’s workforce has gained considered one of its final 5 video games in all competitions.
Raphinha put Barcelona forward with a contact from shut vary after a left-flank low cross by Alejandro Balde within the sixty fifth minute. Lewandowski added to the lead with a shot from inside the realm within the eightieth, and Betis received on the board with an own-goal by Barcelona defender Jules Koundé within the eighty fifth.
Lewandowski has 5 targets in his final 5 matches in all tournaments.
The win got here after Barcelona closed the winter switch window with none signings to spice up its squad. It noticed ahead Memphis Depay transfer to Atletico and Héctor Bellerín be a part of Sporting Lisbon. Veteran defender Gerard Piqué retired.
Betis misplaced defender Álex Moreno to Arsenal and ahead Loren Morón to Las Palmas, nevertheless it signed former Leicester ahead Ayoze Pérez.
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
