Barcelona win, extend lead to eight points in La Liga

KATHMANDU: Robert Lewandowski has scored just his second La Liga goal since October as Barcelona beat Cadiz 2-0 to restore their eight-point lead over Real Madrid.

The 34-year-old added to Sergi Roberto’s opener late in the first half on Sunday to defeat a Cadiz side who held their own for much of the Camp Nou clash and had two goals from Roger disallowed.

Another clean sheet, Barcelona’s 17th shutout in La Liga this season, puts Xavi’s side a step nearer the title, and this was a seventh consecutive league victory, the third time they have had such a run under the leadership of their former midfielder.

Lacking service, Lewandowski barely had a sniff of goal until the 41st minute but he could not make a clean connection with a Ferran Torres cross.

The same duo combined as Barcelona struck two minutes later. Lewandowski’s stooping header from Torres’ clipped cross was cleared off the line but only as far as Sergi Roberto, who slammed it back into the net from eight yards.

Lewandowski drove in Barca’s second goal, a clinical low strike from 16 yards taking the former Bayern Munich striker’s haul to 15 in the league this season.

Earlier, Antoine Griezmann scored for Atletico Madrid in a 1-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao, allowing Diego Simeone’s team to strengthen their hold on the final Champions League place.

The goal saw Griezmann speeding past two defenders before entering the area and firing in a low shot on 73 minutes, giving Atletico their fourth win in five league matches.

The victory left them four points ahead of fifth-placed Real Betis and two points behind third-placed Real Sociedad.

Bilbao, who were trying to win their third league game in a row, stayed in seventh place and missed a chance to move closer to the European places.

“It was a very important match,” Griezmann said.

“We have to keep this going, keep getting the victories and the three points.”

It was Griezmann’s second goal in the last 17 matches with Atletico in all competitions.

“I was looking forward to scoring again,” French international Griezmann added.

“These are streaks, and I hope I can keep this one going.”

Elsewhere, Sevilla were held to a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano and Espanyol defeated last-place Elche 1-0 to end a three-game winless streak and move further away from the relegation zone.

With DPA.

Australian Associated Press