Barcelona on Sunday clung on with 10 men to beat Valencia 1-0 and move nine points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, thanks to Raphinha’s early header.
The champions could not find a way through against Real Betis Balompie in an entertaining 0-0 draw later at the Benito Villamarin.
Brazilian winger Raphinha nodded Barca in front in the 16th minute, but after Ferran Torres missed a penalty and Ronald Araujo was sent off, the hosts were left fighting tooth and nail for the three points.
Photo: AP
They retreated in the final half an hour following Araujo’s 59th-minute red card, but survived to beat Ruben Baraja’s Valencia, who are 19th and two points from safety.
“We suffered too much, we had many chances to score the second,” Barca coach Xavi told reporters. “It can’t be that we have to finish games like that when we have chances. We have to learn how to close out games.”
Barcelona’s 1-0 Copa del Rey semi-final first-leg triumph over Real Madrid on Thursday last week followed two consecutive defeats and Sunday’s narrow victory felt like a significant step toward a first La Liga title since 2018-2019.
Without top-scorer Robert Lewandowski, midfield maestros Pedri and Gavi, and winger Ousmane Dembele, the Catalans did just enough to win.
Valencia resisted early Barcelona pressure, but came undone when Sergio Busquets lofted a pass into the penalty area for Raphinha to meet with a cunning run and a header over Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Early in the second half Barcelona should have moved two goals ahead when Hugo Guillamon was penalized for handball. Torres grabbed the ball to take the penalty, although Ansu Fati also wanted it and the pair exchanged words, increasing the pressure on the Spaniard, who hit the post.
Fati hit the woodwork himself moments later, before a mistake from Jules Kounde left Barcelona with 10 men. The defender’s header back toward his own goal sent Hugo Duro through. Araujo dragged down the striker and saw red.
Reigning champions Real Madrid forged the better openings against Betis, but could not find the goal they needed to stay as close as possible on Barcelona’s tail.
Karim Benzema had a free-kick strike disallowed, while Betis goalkeeper Claudio Bravo made fine saves to deny the French forward and Vinicius Junior.
Thibaut Courtois was also forced into two superb stops by Betis, who showed why they are in contention for a UEFA Champions League place next season with a hearty performance.
“It’s quite evident what we’re lacking, we have to be more efficient,” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti told Movistar. “Sometimes opponents close up at the back, but we have the quality and we have to do it better.”
The coach did not think his team’s title defense was over, despite the setback.
“It’s not impossible. It’s very difficult, but we have no doubt we will try until the end,” Ancelotti said.
Courtois made a stunning save to thwart Borja Iglesias when the striker seemed poised to score.
“We had moments in which we had clear openings, my chance with Thibaut,” Iglesias told Movistar. “That’s why this guy wins what he wins — he saves a lot.”
Elsewhere, Real Valladolid climbed to 14th place with a 2-1 over RCD Espanyol, while Rayo Vallecano and Athletic Bilbao played out a 0-0 draw.
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