Spanish champions Barcelona closed the gap on La Liga leaders Real Madrid to five points with a 1-0 victory over 10-man Las Palmas on Saturday. In the 24th minute, the visiting team’s goalkeeper Alvaro Valles was sent off for a reckless foul. Rafinha scored with a header in the second half to seal Barcelona’s victory. Barcelona warmed up for their Champions League quarter-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain, their next match 11 days later, which they won comfortably despite a tight scoreline.
Xavi Hernandez’s side are unbeaten in 11 games since the coach said he would leave at the end of the season, and their recent form leaves them with little hope of retaining the title.
“We could have scored more, we had a lot of chances to kill the game,” Harvey said.
“It was a summary of our season and we found it difficult to finish the game.”
Real Madrid face Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday as they aim to restore their eight-point advantage over second-placed Catalans.
“They are important three points and we know they will be important at the end of the season,” Raphinha told Movistar.
“We will continue to fight until the end and we will not give up until the end of the league.”
Barcelona dominated against Las Palmas, with goals from Robert Lewandowski and Rafinha both ruled out for offside.
Poland striker Lewandowski hit the crossbar again as Xavi’s side strolled in, and although former Barca striker Sandro Ramirez threatened with a shot at the other end, his effort was weak.
In the 24th minute, Las Palmas goalkeeper Valles was sent off for rushing out of the goal and hitting the busy Rafinha.
Lewandowski hit the crossbar again from Joao Cancelo’s cross and Rafinha fired just wide when he might have scored as Barcelona continued to press for the opener.
-Breakthrough-
Las Palmas, with 10 men, set up in a more defensive manner and tried to frustrate the Catalans, although they came close again when defender Solkoko curled a vicious free-kick into the side netting.
Winger Marvin Parker, on loan at Las Palmas from Real Madrid, forced a fine low shot save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen a minute before Barcelona took the lead.
Substitute Joao Felix made a fine tackle for Raphinha to score his fifth La Liga goal of the season.
The Brazilian winger celebrated sarcastically by drawing VAR on the TV screen, referring to his previous goal that had been disallowed.
Felix should have doubled Barcelona’s lead when Jules Kounde rolled the ball across the face of goal, but the Portuguese forward hit the crossbar when it looked easier to score.
“There is no need to talk about whether he will start for us, Joao Felix is important for us and he is important,” Xavi said of the mercurial Atletico Madrid striker on loan.
Ferran Torres returned from a hamstring injury in the closing stages to replace teenage starlet Lamine Yamar, who had a quiet night after impressing in Spain’s win over Brazil on Tuesday.
Lewandowski was booked for his slow departure after being replaced by Vitor Roque and will miss Barcelona’s next league game against Cadiz and the match against Real on April 21 Madrid’s comeback in a crucial El Clasico.
Earlier on Saturday, Sevilla beat Getafe 1-0 thanks to Sergio Ramos’ 38th birthday goal, Valencia drew 0-0 with Real Mallorca, Osasu Na beat Almeria 3-0.
– Racist Row –
The Getafe game sparked controversy, with Sevilla condemning “racist and xenophobic abuse” directed at coach Quique Sanchez Flores and defender Marcos Acuna.
Referee Javier Iglesias Villanueva wrote in the report that home fans shouted “Acuña monkey” and “Acuna, you come from monkey” at the Argentina international, leading to a brief pause. game.
Sanchez Flores said some home fans called him “Gypsy.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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