Seville (Spain) (AFP)

FC Barcelona won in Seville (2-0) on Saturday on the 25th day of La Liga, in an important match in the title race pending those of Atlético Madrid, leader, and Real Madrid, third.

This victory, acquired thanks to Ousmane Dembélé and Lionel Messi, allows the Catalans to extend their unbeaten streak in the league (15 matches), and to move provisionally second in the standings, two lengths behind Atlético Madrid.

Released to eleven Colchoneros units at the beginning of January, Barcelona is now behind the Madrilenians (1st, 55 pts), who nevertheless have two games less, and Real Madrid (3rd, 52 pts).

At the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium, Ronald Koeman had left on the bench the Uruguayan Ronald Araujo, back from injury (ankle), positioning Clément Lenglet and Oscar Mingueza alongside Gerard Pique in a central three-way defense.

In attack, the Dutch technician had associated Ousmane Dembélé with Lionel Messi, leaving Antoine Griezmann on the bench.

The lightning came from the French winger, well served in depth by Lionel Messi to deceive Yassine Bounou with a strike from the left, his 3rd goal of the season in the league (1-0, 29th).

The inevitable Argentinian then put his family at the end of the game, closely (2-0, 86th).

His 19th goal in La Liga consolidates him at the top of the scorers' standings.

Barcelona controlled the game perfectly thanks to a powerful De Jong-Busquets duo, and Sergino Dest could even have worsened the score after superb collective action, but his shot hit the post (59th).

The only downside for Barça: the relapse of Araujo, again injured, after fifteen short minutes spent on the pitch.

The Andalusians were too harmless to worry the Barcelona defense (no shooting in the first half).

And the three changes Julen Lopetegui made at half-time to re-energize his team's play didn't change anything.

This defeat marks a halt for Sevilla, winner before Saturday of its last six games in the league.

- Decisive week -

With this success, the Barcelona are preparing in the best possible way a decisive week for the end of the Catalan club's season.

They will meet Sevilla on Wednesday at Camp Nou in the Copa del Rey semi-final, where they will have to recover from a two-goal delay to go to the final.

Before the election for the club presidency next Sunday (March 7).

The name of the next president could have big consequences on the future sports management of Barça ... and on that of its star captain, Lionel Messi (33), at the club for two decades and at the end of his contract in June.

Barcelona will then face Paris SG on March 10 in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

In the meantime, the Barcelona have put pressure on their two competitors from Madrid who will not have it easy this weekend: Atlético Madrid moves Sunday on the lawn of Villarreal (6th, 37 pts), before Real Madrid host Real Sociedad on Monday (5th, 41 pts).

A little earlier in the day, Eibar and Huesca had left in a draw (1-1) which does not help either of these two teams in the fight for maintenance.

Huesca remains dead last in Liga (20th) and Eibar (16th) has only one point more in the relegation zone.

Far from the heights of Barça.

© 2021 AFP