Plagued by absences and reduced to ten after an hour of play, Barcelona struggled to overcome Valencia, who were beaten 1-0 at the Camp Nou in a matchday 24 match in La Liga.
However, he increased the lead over second-placed Real Madrid to 9 points, held back to a 0-0 draw at Betis.
The Catalans - now with 62 points - opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a header from Raphinha, but things got complicated in the second half: Ferran Torres missed a penalty in the 55th minute and Ronald Araujo was sent off after a card direct red in the 59th minute for a foul as the last defender.
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LaLiga: Barcelona 1-0 Valencia - Football
24th day (ANSA)
Real Madrid was left dry in Seville.
Karim Benzema was convinced he had opened the scoring in the 12th minute, but his direct free kick was deflected by Antonio Rüdiger's hand into the barrier and the referee disallowed the goal with help from the Var. It was then punctuated by numerous chances from both sides and it took an impeccable Thibaut Courtois to keep Real afloat.
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LaLiga: Betis 0-0 Real Madrid - Football
24th day (ANSA)
Atletico Madrid rises to third place (45 points), thanks to a 6-1 defeat of Sevilla.
Depay, Griezmann, Ferreira-Carrasco and Alvaro Morata scored twice (brace for him too). With a brace from Depay and one from Morata, Atletico Madrid overwhelmed Sevilla 6-1 and moved into third place.
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La Liga: Atletico Madrid 6-1 Sevilla - Football
24th day (ANSA)
The Colchoneros have in fact overtaken Real Sociedad who were stopped early on at home by Cadiz, capable of imposing a goalless goal.
Villarreal away win at Almeria.
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LaLiga: Real Sociedad 0-0 Cadiz - Football
24th day (ANSA)
The overview of the 24th day (RESULTS AND STANDINGS)
Real Sociedad-Cádiz 0-0
Getafe-Girona 3-2
Almeria-Villarreal 0-2
Mallorca-Elche 0-1
Atletico Madrid-Seville 6-1
Valladolid-Espanyol 2-1
Barcelona-Valencia 1-0
Vallecano- Athletic Bilbao 0- 0
Betis-Real Madrid 0-0
Osasuna-Celta Vigo on Monday at 9pm
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La Liga: Almeria 0-2 Villarreal - Football
24th day (ANSA)