FC Barcelona were made to dig deep for a narrow 1-0 win away to struggling Leganes, a result that sees them move seven points clear of archrivals Real Madrid at the top of the La Liga standings.
It took an own goal for Barcelona to secure all three points against a spirited Leganes side, who had famously defeated them earlier this season.
The first half saw Leganes play fearlessly, creating several chances, with Dani Raba going close on a couple of occasions. However, it was Barcelona who finally broke the deadlock early in the second half. Gerard Martin, who had replaced the injured Alejandro Balde during the first half, won the ball in midfield and set up Raphinha. The Brazilian’s intended cross for Robert Lewandowski was deflected into the net by Leganes defender Jorge Saenz, giving Barça a fortunate lead, according to Xinhua.
Elsewhere in La Liga, Mallorca dealt a major blow to Real Sociedad’s European ambitions with a 2-0 victory in San Sebastian. Cyle Larin opened the scoring after 20 minutes following a mistake by Ander Barrenetxea, and Sergi Darder doubled the lead with a powerful strike early in the second half.
Meanwhile, Roberto Fernandez scored a brace to lift Espanyol to a 2-0 away win, easing their relegation worries. Las Palmas ended a 12-match winless streak with a crucial 3-1 triumph over Getafe, boosting their own survival hopes.
Real Madrid, who trail Barcelona and are set to face Alaves on Sunday, will aim to cut the deficit back to four points. However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side are reeling from a 0-3 loss to Arsenal in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal clash.
Ancelotti emphasized the need for his team to “recover the good feeling” against Alaves, knowing that a crucial week lies ahead. Despite facing a daunting three-goal deficit at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid’s history of miraculous comebacks keeps their Champions League dreams alive. The club, record 15-time European champions, has repeatedly shown their resilience in the most challenging circumstances.
