Pedri fires Barcelona 11 points clear in La Liga

Pedri’s strike earned Barcelona a combating 1-zero win over Villarreal on Sunday to move 11 factors clear of 2d-positioned Real Madrid on the pinnacle of La Liga.

The champions, who won the Club World Cup on Saturday, face Elche in midweek to attempt to chunk back into the growing hole.

Earlier Memphis Depay scored his first Atletico Madrid aim as Diego Simeone’s facet beat Celta Vigo 1-0 to consolidate their position in fourth.

Barcelona rode their success in a gripping conflict at Estadio de la Ceramica however held off a Yellow Submarine onslaught to keep marching in the direction of their goal of triumphing the identify for the first time on the grounds that 2019.

Defender Ronald Araujo specifically made a number of amazing blocks and interceptions to assist guard Barcelona’s slender gain until the give up, locking in any other easy sheet.

Barcelona have shut out combatants 16 times in 21 league video games this season, conceding just seven goals.

“The fact is we are operating surely hard (defensively),” Araujo instructed Movistar.

“We needed to accurate this from final season, while teams scored a number of dreams against us, and it become hard for us to maintain smooth sheets.

“We’re doing well on the back and the midfielders are not leaving areas, the forwards too. It’s the fruit of (our) work.”

La Liga pinnacle scorer Robert Lewandowski overlooked two huge chances for Barcelona.

However the Polish international, La Liga’s pinnacle scorer, made up for it with a cushioned pass for Pedri to open the scoring after 18 minutes.

Barcelona usual a tremendous team circulate, finished off by means of the 20-yr-old midfielder for his fourth aim in seven games throughout all competitions.

Jose Luis Morales must have levelled for Villarreal but did no longer join nicely with a volley and later fired extensive while through on aim.

The hosts, who beat Real Madrid in January, have been inclined to attack the leaders and it led to an interesting warfare which ebbed and flowed from end to end.

The Catalans face Manchester United within the Europa League next, on Thursday.

“There’s a whole lot of factors left (to play for), there is goodbye to move,” stated Barca train Xavi.

“The run is tremendous however we can enhance matters. We are green and really stable, to win these games that are virtually tough.”

Villarreal, eighth, have now misplaced 3 league video games in a row.

Earlier Simeone’s Atletico, right down to 10 men after Stefan Savic’s crimson card, have been outplayed through Celta however Depay reacted quickly to spin and bury a free ball in the 89th minute.

The Dutch forward, signed from Barcelona in January, netted in La Liga for the primary time for the reason that September.

“It turned into an critical intention above taken with the crew, and for him,” said Simeone.

“He worked properly this week, he needs minutes and will compete in schooling to get them.

“There’s competition among the gamers and it’s accurate that it is hard for us to decide (who plays).”

Goalkeeper Jan Oblak made a string of lovely saves, at the same time as Celta striker Iago Aspas hit the crossbar from a free kick, because the hosts dominated at Balaidos.

Atletico defender Savic turned into dismissed within the 70th minute for hauling down Swiss striker Haris Seferovic on the edge of the location.

Remarkably the Montenegrin defender has been dismissed 3 times in his last 5 appearances throughout all competitions.

With Atletico out of European opposition and overwhelmed inside the Copa del Rey through rivals Real Madrid, securing Champions League football with a top-four end is their target.

The harsh defeat leaves Celta Vigo provisionally 14th, not able to feature a 3rd consecutive victory to their wins over Real Betis and Athletic Bilbao.

Elsewhere Rayo Vallecano, sixth, had been unable to conquer lowly Getafe in a Madrid derby, sharing a 1-1 draw, even as Real Valladolid and Osasuna drew zero-zero.

Real Sociedad, 1/3, tour to stand Espanyol on Monday.