Robert Lewandowski and Sergi Roberto’s targets helped Barcelona beat Cadiz 2-0 and restore their eight-point lead on the high of La Liga on Sunday.
Elsewhere Antoine Griezmann’s excellent strike helped Atletico Madrid earn a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao to tighten their grip on fourth place.
Champions Real Madrid’s win at Osasuna on Saturday pulled them nearer to Xavi Hernandez’s Barca, who had one eye on Thursday’s Europa League play-off second leg in opposition to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
However an impressed Ferran Torres helped Sergi Roberto to interrupt the impasse and Lewandowski added a second to depart Cadiz, seventeenth, two factors above the relegation zone.
The guests had two Roger Marti targets disallowed and made Barcelona uncomfortable at instances at Camp Nou however their victory hardly ever appeared unsure.
Xavi started with Sergi Roberto in midfield, changing Pedri, who suffered a thigh damage within the Europa League 2-2 first leg draw with Manchester United final Thursday.
The coach passionately defended the Catalan after the sport, saying he was a participant usually used as a scapegoat.
“I’ve heard the most unjust criticism (aimed at him) in my life,” Xavi advised reporters.
“He’s a homegrown player, with a spectacular attitude, always trying to help the team, he’s unselfish.”
However it was Torres’ arrival that made the important thing distinction for Barcelona within the first half.
The winger has struggled badly at instances this season, however with Ousmane Dembele injured and Raphinha rested to face United, he took his probability with each arms.
Torres was hyperactive, dribbling previous defenders at tempo and tying Cadiz’s defence in knots.
One such run down the correct noticed him cross for Lewandowski after 43 minutes and though the Polish striker’s effort was saved, Sergi Roberto was available to smash house the rebound.
Three minutes later Barcelona doubled their lead when Lewandowski collected the ball on the sting of the Cadiz field and fired a low strike into the underside nook.
“I work to show my football, it’s true I’ve not had many minutes and (not had that much) importance in the team,” Torres advised Movistar.
“Every time the coach gives me his confidence, I go out to show him what I’ve got.”
Some Barcelona followers sang Torres’s title in response to his electrical efficiency, encouraging the ahead after his troublesome spell.
“I’m proud that they chant my name,” he added. “There is still work to do, the hard thing is to keep it up.”
Barcelona took their foot off the fuel within the second half, though Lewandowski clipped the highest of the crossbar.
La Liga’s high scorer with 15 targets, Lewandowski has not been at his sharpest because the World Cup however slowly appears to be returning to it.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved one more clear sheet, with Barcelona having conceded simply seven targets from 22 matches in La Liga.
In Europe it has been one other story, with Xavi hoping his facet can show extra sturdy on the again in opposition to Man United than they had been within the first leg.
Atletico’s victory over Athletic helped them lower the hole on third place Real Sociedad to 2 factors, after the Basque facet drew on Saturday.
Athletic performed of their traditional crimson and white striped equipment, and Atletico in away shirts, regardless that Diego Simeone’s facet had been at house on the Metropolitano stadium.
The hosts wished to pay tribute to rejoice Athletic’s a hundred and twenty fifth anniversary — with Atletico having been fashioned as a department of Athletic again in 1903.
Griezmann made the distinction in a good conflict after 73 minutes when he mixed with Depay.
The pair exchanged passes and Griezmann drove into the field to web his seventh league aim of the season.
Rayo Vallecano and guests Sevilla shared a 1-1 draw, with the hosts, sixth, unable to exert most strain on the edges above them within the quest to safe European soccer subsequent season.
Sevilla have struggled on the highway in latest weeks, whereas their house type has helped them transfer as much as mid-table after a poor begin to the season.
Jorge Sampaoli’s facet took the lead when Suso’s effort from distance deflected in off Oscar Valentin, however Florian Lejeune headed house from a nook to stage.
Sergi Darder’s late strike snatched Espanyol a 1-0 win at bottom-of-the-table Elche.
rbs/dj
MANCHESTER UNITED
