Barcelona reduced the difference from its arch-rivals Real Madrid to one point by defeating its neighbor Espanyol yesterday 1-0, which decided the fall of the old son of Catalonia - as the fans like to call him - to the second degree for the first time since 1993, in the 35th stage of the championship. Spain football.
Barcelona raised its score to 76 points, compared to 77 for Real Madrid, who is hosting Alaves at 12 midnight tomorrow, Friday, at the end of the stage.
Barcelona coach Kiki Seten retained the same squad that made a great offensive offer in the last game against Villarreal (4-1) except for the involvement of Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic, instead of Chilean Arturo Vidal.
Barcelona entered its match with its neighbor, and he scored 21 goals in his last five matches at home, including 10 goals by Argentine star Lionel Messi.
The first dangerous opportunity was for the guests when Adrian Ambarba broke the offside trap almost from the middle of the field and alone with Barcelona goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen who blocked his attempt (11).
Barcelona responded with a direct free kick following the obstruction of the French Antoine Griezmann on the outskirts of the region, Messi came to her, but he shot a little over the bar (22).
Espanyol missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring when French defender Clement Langley tried to scatter the ball, but he shot it in Ter Stegen's body, and it fell in front of Dedac Villa, who followed it on the bottom right post (44).
Barcelona ended the first half without paying any ball between the three sets, which is what happens to him for the first time this season at the "Camp Nou" stadium in various competitions.
The Barcelona coach tried to activate the offensive front and involved the young Enso Fati instead of the right-back Portuguese Nelson Simedo early in the second half.
However, Fati did not stay long on the ground of the green rectangle, because he spoiled Fernando Calero, and the referee dismissed him after resorting to the video technique (50).
Fatee became the first Barcelona player to be sent off before reaching the age of eighteen since Mark Munyza in 2009.
It is the sixth red card for the Catalan team this season, that is, the sum total of what his players have won in four previous seasons.
Soon, Paul Lozano, a Spanish player, caught up with him after his violent intervention on Gerard Pique (52). The two teams completed the match with ten players. Lozano was a key player for the first time in the La Liga team.
After a wonderful joint game in which Griezmann and Messi participated, the ball reached Uruguayan Luis Suarez, so he followed it into the net from a close distance (56).
Suarez raised his score this season to 15 goals, knowing that he contributed to 8 decisive passes as well.
Espanyol goalkeeper David Lopez intervened to respond admirably to Messi's shot "on the fly", saving his team from a certain goal (69).
Villarreal boosts his European hopes
On the other hand, Villarreal strengthened its score in fifth place and maintained its hope of participating in the Champions League next season by defeating its direct competitor Getafe 3-1 in the last round.
Villarreal raised its score to 57 points, 3 points behind Sevilla, who are playing in this round, hosted by Athletic Bilbao on Thursday. On the other hand, Getafe's hopes of participating in the Champions League faded after he was 7 points away from fourth-placed four stages before the end of the league.
The victory is the sixth for the "Yellow Submarine" team in eight games since the league resumed in mid-June.
Veteran Santi Cazorla starred and scored two goals from the penalty spot in the 66th and 86th minutes, before Robin Pena added the third (90 + 3). As for Getafe's only goal, Hugo Douro scored (80).
In a second match, Real Betis scored a straight win over Osasuna with three cleansings, which were scored by Guido Rodriguez (4), Alfonso Pedraza (25) and Carlis Elena (90 + 7).
On Thursday, Ibar will meet Leganes, Real Mallorca with Levante, Athletic Bilbao with Seville, and will end on Friday, when Real Sociedad will meet Granada.