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Barcelona stored their faint title hopes alive and doomed Espanyol to relegation on Wednesday as Luis Suarez’s objective proved the winner in a pivotal Catalan derby on the high and backside of La Liga. A cagey contest at Camp Nou exploded into life for six frantic minutes firstly of the second half as Ansu Fati and Pol Lozano have been despatched off, leaving both sides with 10 males earlier than Suarez struck. Suarez profited after one other excellent contribution from a reinvigorated Antoine Griezmann, his backheel establishing Lionel Messi to shoot, with Suarez turning within the rebound.
This 1-Zero victory was a far cry from the glowing 4-1 win over Villarreal on Sunday however it strikes Barca to inside a degree of Real Madrid, who play their recreation in hand at residence to Alaves on Friday.
Espanyol, rooted to the underside of the desk, shall be relegated. They sit 11 factors adrift of security with solely three video games left to play.
“Life or death” learn the entrance web page of Mundo Deportivo on Thursday morning – for Barcelona, who needed to win to remain in contact with Madrid, and for Espanyol, given they wanted a victory to lengthen their survival effort.
Griezmann’s mixture with Suarez and Messi, coming after his luxurious chip towards Villarreal, sustains the Frenchman’s momentum however this was extra of a gritty win towards an Espanyol group that hit the submit at 0-Zero and had probabilities.
With the superior head-to-head and a sort final 4 fixtures, Real Madrid stay agency favourites.
“We have to win our next three games,” mentioned Suarez. “What Madrid do is up to them. If they drop points, fantastic. We just have to be there if they do.”
Espanyol wanted to win however haven’t crushed Barcelona within the league since 2009 when Mauricio Pochettino was in cost and Rufete, the group’s fourth coach this season, accepted Messi’s commiserations on the closing whistle with a glance of resignation.
The membership’s supporters this week expressed anger after a “shameful season” underneath the Chinese Rastar Group, which took majority management in 2016.
“Ask forgiveness”
Only Barcelona, Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao have spent extra seasons within the high flight than Espanyol, who after 26 consecutive campaigns there should now rebuild.
“We ask forgiveness from our fans,” mentioned Javi Lopez.
“We know these are tough moments for us but for our fans as well. This season nothing has gone right. It’s our fault and we are committed to coming back stronger.”
Barcelona had numerous the ball within the first half however did little with it and actually Espanyol had the higher probabilities on the counter-attack.
Adri Embarba sped away down the best after honing on objective his end needed to be blocked by the outstretched proper leg of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Ter Stegen was known as upon once more earlier than half-time and this time Didac Vila raced clear down the left, his shot rebounding off the goalkeeper and Clement Lenglet earlier than falling again to Vila, who hit the far submit.
Quique Setien acted on the break, bringing Fati on and shifting Sergi Roberto to right-back however the 17-year-old lasted solely 5 minutes, a excessive problem on Fernando Calero incomes in him a straight purple card on assessment.
But any benefit Espanyol had was short-lived as a result of Lozano then flew in excessive on Gerard Pique, along with his studs up, and was additionally despatched off to make it 10 towards 10.
With the numbers equal however the areas greater, Barcelona might assault with better freedom and so they took the lead three minutes later.
A pleasant Griezmann backheel teed up Messi to shoot and the ball spilled out for Suarez to faucet in.
Messi virtually added a second with a thumping volley on the again submit whereas Espanyol needed a penalty in injury-time when a shot hit the shoulder of Arturo Vidal. The appeals have been rightly waved away.
Promoted
Villarreal had earlier crushed Getafe 3-1 to scale back the hole behind Sevilla in fourth to a few factors.
Santi Cazorla scored two penalties for Villarreal to all-but finish Getafe’s personal hopes of Champions League qualification. Sevilla play away at Athletic Bilbao on Thursday.
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