Barcelona, February 13 (BNA): Barcelona continues to win at the top of the Spanish League and moves away from Real Madrid.
Barcelona beat Villarreal 1-0 on the road on Sunday to extend their winning streak to 11 matches in all competitions and move ahead of second-placed Madrid to 11 points, the Associated Press reports.
Madrid, who won the Club World Cup on Saturday, have played one game less than Barcelona.
“Nothing has been decided yet, there are still a lot of leagues left,” said Barcelona coach Xavi. “But we’re glad that we’re moving along and doing things well.”
It was Barcelona’s 16th clean sheet in 21 league matches this season.
Pedri scored in the 18th minute for Barcelona, who drew 1-1 at Espanyol in the league on December 31, the last time they failed to win. The run of 11 matches in a row included a win over Real Betis on penalties in the Spanish Super Cup and an extra-time win in the Copa del Rey against Inter City.
This is the third consecutive loss for Villarreal, who are in eighth place, who have achieved only one victory in their last six matches in all competitions. Their previous defeat was in last place Elche, which was winless in the league.
Villarreal started the match without injured striker Gerard Moreno, and lost midfielder Francis Coquelin to a knee injury in the first half. The Frenchman had to be carried off the field on a stretcher.
Barcelona was playing without captain Sergio Busquets and winger Ousmane Dembele due to injuries. Xavi used midfielder Frenkie de Jong and striker Rafinha in their place.
Defender Marcos Alonso started sitting on the bench a few days after the death of his father, former Barcelona player Marcos Alonso.
Next Barcelona hosts Manchester United in the European League on Thursday.
DEPAY, OBLAK LEAD ATLETICO
Memphis Depay scored in the 88th minute, scoring his first goal since joining from Barcelona when Atletico Madrid, consisting of 10 players, beat Celta Vigo 1-0 to remain in fourth place in the Champions League final.
Atletico needed a good performance from goalkeeper Jan Oblak and some help from the woodwork after defender Stefan Savic was sent off in the 70th minute.
Atletico opened a four-point lead over fifth-placed Betis with their third win in four league matches. Celta, who were coming off two straight wins, dropped to 14th.
“It was a tough game, we knew Celta was in a good moment,” said Atletico coach Diego Simeone. “In the end, Oblak helped us again and Memphis came up with a very important game for us.”
Depay scored from inside the area his first goal for Atletico since his arrival on a transfer from Barcelona in January.
Oblak made a superb stop after Savic was sent off, including a goal-line reflex at the 85th.
Veteran Celta striker Iago Aspas hit the crossbar from the free kick that came after Savic’s red card for stopping the breakaway.
Midfielder Koke Resurrección played his 402nd league game for Atlético, surpassing the club mark set by former midfielder Adelardo Rodriguez.
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Second-to-last Getafe secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano thanks to a 77th-minute equalizer by Enes Unal and Rayo striker Raul de Tomas who failed to score from the penalty spot in the 87th minute, just four minutes after entering the penalty area. the match.
Getafe, who are winless in seven consecutive matches in all competitions, played with 10 men of 54 after Carles Alena was sent off with a second yellow card.
Getafe striker Borja Mayoral also failed to score from a penalty kick shortly before Alina was sent off.
Rayo, who had won three of their last four league matches, dropped to sixth with the away draw.
Osasuna held again
Osasuna’s winless run in the league reached four matches after they were held 0-0 by 13th-placed Valladolid, who are on a two-game winning streak after five consecutive defeats in all competitions.
Osasuna, who remain in ninth place, have managed just one win in their last eight league matches.
On Monday, third-placed Real Sociedad visited relegation-threatened Espanyol, seeking to end a streak of three consecutive matches without a win and move closer to second-placed Real Madrid.