FC Barcelona has taken a big step towards the title in the race for the Spanish soccer championship.
The Catalans won 1-0 (1-0) against FC Valencia on Sunday and extended their lead over pursuers and rivals Real Madrid to nine points. Los Blancos made a mistake at Betis Sevilla and couldn’t get past a 0-0 draw.
Raphinha (15′) gave Barcelona, who were still without Robert Lewandowski with a thigh injury, an early start.
Ferran Torres missed a hand penalty (55th) for the team around national goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Shortly thereafter, Barca defender Ronald Araujo (59th) had to leave the field with a red card due to an emergency brake, but the league leaders brought the victory outnumbered over time.
Real Madrid in the third competitive game in a row without success
With Rio world champion Toni Kroos and national player Antonio Rüdiger in the starting XI, Champions League winners Real celebrated the supposed opening goal in the 13th minute.
The free-kick goal by star striker Karim Benzema was taken back by VAR because of a Rüdiger handball. In the second round, the Madrilenians increased the pressure, but the number remained zero.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team remained without a win in their third competitive game in a row. Last Thursday, Madrid lost the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final against rivals Barcelona 0-1. The second leg is on March 19th.