MADRID, April 25 (Xinhua) — FC Barcelona moved closer to this season’s La Liga title with a 2-0 win away to Getafe on Saturday, opening up an 11-point lead over Real Madrid with only 18 points left to play for.
A close first half saw neither team create much until Fermin Lopez broke the deadlock in injury time after breaking through the Getafe defense and beating David Soria.
Barcelona was able to control a slightly flat Getafe in the second half and doubled its lead just after Pau Cubarsi had cleared the hosts’ best chance almost off the line.
Robert Lewandowski released Marcus Rashford in behind a high Getafe defense and the forward calmly made it 2-0.
Atletico Madrid came from behind to beat Athletic Bilbao 3-2 at home. Aitor Paredes headed Athletic in front midway through the first half, but quickfire goals from Antoine Griezmann and Alexander Sorloth early in the second period turned the game around. Sorloth added a third in stoppage time before Gorka Guruzeta reduced the deficit with a 97th-minute header.
Alaves suffered an early blow when key striker Lucas Boye went off with a hamstring injury after just two minutes at home to Mallorca. Jan Virgili’s fine solo goal then put the visitors ahead, but Alaves dominated the second half and climbed out of the bottom three with a 2-1 win thanks to a brace from top scorer Toni Martinez.
Valencia also took three vital points with a 2-1 win at home to Girona after a thrilling second half which saw the home side go 2-0 up with goals from Largie Ramazani after 50 minutes and Umar Sadiq nine minutes later.
Substitute Joel Roca pulled a goal back for Girona who was denied an equalizer by Stole Dimitrievski’s stunning injury time save. ■
