FC Barcelona moved to within five points of La Liga leader Real Madrid on Saturday night with a narrow 1-0 home win over Las Palmas, reported Xinhua.
Las Palmas goalkeeper Alvaro Valles gave Barca a big helping hand in the 24th minute when he was sent off for rushing out of the box and bringing down Raphinha, who was through on goal.
Raphinha had an effort ruled out for offside but got his goal in the 59th minute with a looping header after a smart cross from Joao Felix.
Las Palmas didn't let their heads drop, and Marvin Park and former Barca forward Sandro Ramirez both threatened on the break. However, Joao Felix should have doubled Barca's lead 15 minutes from time, only to hit the bar from three yards when it looked easier to score.
Barca players – Robert Lewandowski, Joao Cancelo and Inigo Martinez – saw second-half yellow cards. They will be suspended for their next game (against Cadiz) but won't run the risk of suspension for the 'Clasico' against Real Madrid on April 21.
An early goal from Sergio Ramos on his 38th birthday gave Sevilla a 1-0 win away to Getafe, which eased their relegation worries.
Ramos scored with a close-range shot following a corner and had another goal ruled out. Sevilla goalkeeper Orjan Nyland made a series of important saves in the second half to assure three big points to keep them six points clear of the bottom three.
The game was spoiled by racist insults from a section of the home fans at Sevilla coach, Quique Sanchez Flores (who had spent three spells coaching Getafe) and also at visiting defender Marcos Acuna.
Almeria remains bottom of the table after losing 3-0 at home to Osasuna, who showed no sign of being affected by the news that Jagoba Arrasate will step down as coach at the end of the season.
Jose Arnaiz opened the scoring for the visitors in the second minute and Ante Budimir doubled the lead after six minutes. Iker Munoz made it 3-0 just after the hour.
Mallorca warmed up for next week's Copa del Rey final against Athletic Club Bilbao with a 0-0 draw away to Valencia, in which they again showed their solid defensive form.
The bad news for Javier Aguirre's side was an apparent muscle injury suffered by Omar Mascarell, which threatens to keep him out of the final.
On Friday night, Robert Navarro's second half goal gave Cadiz a 1-0 win at home to Granada to keep their survival hopes alive and to sink their rivals, as Jose Ramon Sandoval made his debut in the Granada dugout.
Real Madrid will play Athletic Club Bilbao on Sunday night, and Atletico Madrid travel to Villarreal on Monday.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
Do you think FC Barcelona has what it takes to catch up and surpass Real Madrid in the La Liga standings, especially with some key players suspended for the next game?
As a Barca fan, I believe our team has the talent and determination to bridge the gap with Real Madrid. Despite the upcoming suspensions, our players will fight hard to secure vital points and maintain the pressure on the league leaders. It’s going to be an exciting race to the finish!
FC Barcelona put up a strong fight against Las Palmas, showing great teamwork and determination. Even with some missed opportunities, they managed to secure a crucial 1-0 victory. Looking forward to the upcoming ‘Clasico’ showdown against Real Madrid!
Did Sevilla secure their 1-0 win against Getafe through a penalty kick or open play?
Hi Emily_Writes, Sevilla secured their 1-0 win against Getafe through open play with Sergio Ramos scoring a close-range shot following a corner. No penalty kick was involved in the goal. Hope this clarifies things for you!
Barcelona played a solid game and deserved the win, but they need to work on their finishing. Real Madrid better watch out with Barcelona closing in. On the other hand, Sevilla showed determination and Ramos proved his worth, securing a crucial victory for the team.
In my opinion, Barcelona is really stepping up their game and closing in on Real Madrid. It’s impressive to see how they managed to secure a victory even with the challenges they faced during the match. Looking forward to the upcoming ‘Clasico’ showdown!
Barcelona really showed determination and skill in their match against Las Palmas. It’s exciting to see them closing in on Real Madrid. Can’t wait for the ‘Clasico’ on April 21!
In my opinion, FC Barcelona demonstrated a solid performance, especially with Raphinha’s goal and the disciplined defense. It’s impressive how they managed to secure the win even with players receiving yellow cards. The upcoming match against Real Madrid will be crucial. On the other hand, Sevilla’s victory against Getafe, led by Sergio Ramos, was essential for their position in the league. It’s unfortunate to hear about the racist insults during the game, which should be condemned unequivocally.
In my opinion, Barcelona’s victory over Las Palmas and their upcoming match against Real Madrid is setting the stage for an exciting showdown in La Liga. It’s impressive to see them closing in on the top spot, and the players’ performances show their determination to compete at the highest level.
In my opinion, the win by FC Barcelona over Las Palmas shows they are closing the gap on Real Madrid. Exciting times ahead for Barca fans!
Barcelona really showed their strength in the match against Las Palmas. Even though they struggled to score, they managed to secure a crucial victory. It was impressive to see Raphinha’s determination in getting the goal. Looking forward to the upcoming ‘Clasico’ against Real Madrid!
Barcelona really showed their strength in the game, especially with Raphinha’s decisive goal. It’s impressive how they managed to close the gap with Real Madrid. On the other hand, Sevilla’s win against Getafe was crucial for them to secure points and push away from the relegation zone. Ramos’ goal was key in this hard-fought match. Let’s hope for fair play and respect for all in the upcoming games.