Ousmane Dembele’s strike on Sunday sent Barcelona three points clear at the top of La Liga with a tense 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid.
Earlier, David Silva produced a masterclass to help third-placed Real Sociedad beat UD Almeria 2-0, while Real Betis Balompie moved fourth with an entertaining 2-1 win at Rayo Vallecano.
Struggling Sevilla earned a crucial 2-1 win over Getafe to climb out of the relegation zone on goal-difference.
Photo: AP
Capitalizing on champions Real Madrid’s defeat by Villarreal, Barcelona set out to make a statement victory over Atletico at the Metropolitano.
Shorn of suspended top-scorer Robert Lewandowski, Xavi selected Ansu Fati up front in his place, but it was Dembele who made the difference, finishing a slick move in the 22nd minute.
Atletico ramped up the pressure, with the superb Ronald Araujo clearing off the line from Antoine Griezmann at the death, but Diego Simeone’s side could not find an equalizer.
Both teams finished with 10 men after Ferran Torres and Stefan Savic were sent off for brawling as tempers soured.
“It’s a win, but it’s not just three points. It gives us morale and confidence for what’s left of the league,” Xavi told reporters. “We are capable of winning at a place as tough as this, suffering, being a family. We knew how to suffer and we take three golden points. It’s a real statement that we are candidates to win this league.”
Barcelona have conceded just six goals in their first 16 La Liga matches, but Griezmann twice came close to finding the equalizer Atletico craved.
The Catalans only mustered two shots on target and Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak said his side deserved more.
“We had a good game, apart from the first 25 minutes,” Oblak told DAZN. “We pressed well, we had chances, but lacked a bit of luck to score. We started badly, the first 25 minutes we had little confidence, and later we woke up, but at 1-0 down it’s already harder.”
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