If Real Madrid has already been announced as the winner of the Spanish Championship since its success against FC Barcelona (3-2), the Blaugrana club still wants to believe it and, for the close of the 33rd day, it absolutely had to win in order to to keep a final hope for the title. Hurt,
De Jong was replaced by Fermín López in Xavi Hernández’s eleven to face Valencia CF, still in the fight for a European place at the end of the season. And the first period was very lively inside Montjuïc.
Shortly after a duel lost by Peter against Ter Stegen, although alone in front of goal (20th), Cancelo was able to pass to Raphinha, who found Fermín López for the opening score with a header (1-0, 22nd). But subsequently, Barcelona cracked after a huge ball from Ter Stegen, who completely missed his restart in front of Duro. The Valencia striker just had to push the ball into the empty goal to equalize (1-1, 27th). And a few moments later, Peter was completely mowed down in the area by Araujo and conceded a logical penalty transformed by Pepelu (2-1, 38th).
Valencia goalkeeper sent off before half-time
With two stupid mistakes, Barça ruined everything. But the half-time had not finished reserving its surprises, since after a post found by Araujo (45th), Mamardashvili, the Valencia goalkeeper, was sent off after having touched the ball with his hand in front of Yamal… outside his area (45th+5). And that benefited the Blaugrana. On a corner from the left, Lewandowski deflected the ball with his head to the near post to equalize after the break (2-2, 49th). Reduced to ten, the Murcielagos suffered a lot and ended up breaking.
General league table
|
#
|
Team
|
Pts
|
J
|
DIF
|
G
|
NOT
|
D
|
BP
|
B.C.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
|
84 |
33 |
49 |
26 |
6 |
1 |
71 |
22 |
|
2 |
|
73 |
33 |
29 |
22 |
7 |
4 |
68 |
39 |
|
3 |
|
71 |
33 |
29 |
22 |
5 |
6 |
69 |
40 |
|
4 |
|
64 |
33 |
23 |
20 |
4 |
9 |
62 |
39 |
|
5 |
|
58 |
33 |
20 |
16 |
10 |
7 |
53 |
33 |
|
6 |
|
51 |
33 |
11 |
13 |
12 |
8 |
46 |
35 |
|
7 |
|
49 |
33 |
2 |
12 |
13 |
8 |
41 |
39 |
See the full ranking
Again after a well-hit and poorly returned corner by Domenech, Lewandowski was able to recover faster than everyone to put Barça in front and score a double (3-2, 82nd). Before achieving a hat-trick by scoring a very nice curling free kick (4-2, 90th + 4). In pain, FC Barcelona is eleven points behind Real Madrid and will, once again, absolutely have to win in the Catalan derby against Girona, the next day, to delay the coronation of Real Madrid. For its part, Valencia sees Europe moving away and will have to get back on track against Alavés.
