Last Updated: March 05, 2023, 22:55 IST
La Liga: Barcelona’s Raphinha (AP)
Raphinha’s first-half header was sufficient to give Barcelona a slim win over struggling Valencia after being decreased to 10 males for the final half-hour of the match
Barcelona clung on with 10 males to beat Valencia 1-0 and transfer 10 factors away from Real Madrid on the high of La Liga on Sunday, thanks to Raphinha’s early header.
The Brazilian winger nodded the Catalans in entrance within the sixteenth minute. But after Ferran Torres missed a penalty and Ronald Araujo was despatched off, the hosts had been left combating tooth and nail for the three factors.
Barca retreated within the ultimate half hour following Araujo’s 59th minute purple card however survived to beat Ruben Baraja’s Valencia, who’re nineteenth and two factors from security.
Barcelona’s 1-0 Copa del Rey semi-final first-leg conquer Real Madrid on Thursday adopted two consecutive defeats, and this slim victory felt like a major step in the direction of a primary league title since 2019.
Madrid can reduce the hole again to seven factors afterward at Real Betis, however had been hoping a depleted Barcelona would stumble at Camp Nou.
Without high scorer Robert Lewandowski, midfield maestros Pedri and Gavi and winger Ousmane Dembele, the Catalans had been unable to play their greatest soccer, however did simply sufficient to win.
Coach Xavi Hernandez was suspended too, watching from a field, together with his brother and assistant Oscar within the dugout.
Valencia resisted early Barcelona stress however got here undone when Sergio Busquets lofted a cross into the world for Raphinha to meet with a crafty run and a header over Giorgi Mamardashvili.
It was Raphinha’s fifth league aim of the season and related to his header towards Osasuna which snatched Barcelona a significant win earlier than the World Cup break.
Although the ahead has not persistently shone since his transfer from Leeds United final summer season, his targets in current weeks have helped Barca deal with Dembele’s absence.
Holding on
Raphinha fired a free-kick into the wall and curled one other effort broad after a high quality Alejandro Balde run as Barcelona appeared to construct on their sturdy begin.
Remaining on the coronary heart of the motion, the Brazilian whipped in a cross for Ansu Fati who headed into the bottom and astray when he ought to have examined Mamardashvili.
Valencia may need equalised when Samuel Lino slashed an effort wildly over the bar, with Barcelona’s defence caught out for the primary time.
Former Barcelona youth participant Ilaix Moriba stabbed an effort broad in the direction of the tip of the primary half, as Los Che lastly started to earn a foothold within the sport.
Early within the second half, Barcelona ought to have moved two forward when Hugo Guillamon was penalised for handball.
Torres grabbed the ball to take the penalty, though Fati additionally needed it and the pair exchanged phrases, growing the stress on the Spaniard, who hit the submit.
Fati struck the submit moments later with an effort on the close to submit, earlier than a mistake from Jules Kounde left Barcelona with 10 males.
The French defender’s ill-advised header again in the direction of Marc-Andre ter Stegen despatched Hugo Duro via on aim. Ronald Araujo dragged down the striker and noticed purple.
Valencia put stress on Barcelona with out troubling Ter Stegen, who saved his 18th La Liga clear sheet of the season.
The guests may need been awarded a late penalty when Kessie tangled with Fran Perez, however the referee waved away their determined — and never unfounded — appeals.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed)
