Barcelona consolidates leadership with triumph ripped ‘in irons’ in Bilbao

FC Barcelona kicked off, this Sunday, in irons, a 1-0 victory at the Athletic Bilbao stadium, in a game of the 25th round of the Spanish League, which allowed the Catalans to consolidate the leadership of the competition.

A goal scored by the Brazilian Raphinha very close to half-time, at 45+1 minutes, was enough for FC Barcelona to secure the triumph, not least because the German goalkeeper Ter Stegen tried to prevent all attempts by the hosts – and there were many – to restore the tie.

Athletic Bilbao, quiet ninth, looked to have overtaken Ter Stegen’s opposition in the 88th minute when Iñaki Williams finally scored the home team’s goal, but the move was disallowed due to a touch of the ball with his arm by the from a colleague.

Barça regained a comfortable nine points lead over Real Madrid, in second place, which on Saturday prevailed against Espanyol, 3-1, while Atlético de Madrid, third, with one game less, and Real Sociedad, fourth, they are already 20 points away.

Real Sociedad opened the scoring after just three minutes in Mallorca, through Carlos Fernández, but the visitors established a 1-1 tie in the 50th minute, with a goal by South Korean Kang-In Lee, and the visitors ended up reduced to 10 players due to Mikel Merino being sent off at 90.

The San Sebastián team overcame Atlético de Madrid, both 11 points behind their rivals Real Madrid, but the “colchoneros” could distance themselves on Monday, when they travel to Girona’s ground, in the closing game of the round.

The damage for Real Sociedad was not greater because the most direct pursuers (Bétis, fifth placed, and Villarreal, sixth) faced each other and also drew 1-1, with goals from Borja Iglésias for the Seville team – in which the goalkeeper Portuguese networks Rui Silva was totalist -, at 38 minutes, and Yeremy Pino, at 55.

In the fight for maintenance, Sevilla were losing in the reception to Almeria, following the goal scored by Sergio Akieme, just two minutes in, but turned the result around, thanks to the accurate shots of the Argentines Lucas Ocampos, at 45+2, and Erik Lamela, at 73.