In a decisive move towards securing second place in the Spanish league, Barcelona emerged victorious with a 2-0 win against last-place Almeria. Fermin López showcased his prowess by scoring both goals for Barcelona, with one in each half. This victory extends Barcelona's lead over third-place Girona to four points with just two rounds remaining in the season.
Securing second place not only strengthens Barcelona's position in the league but also guarantees them a spot in the lucrative Spanish Super Cup held in Saudi Arabia. The team's upcoming fixtures include hosting Rayo Vallecano and visiting Sevilla, while Girona faces Valencia and hosts Granada.
Barcelona's coach, Xavi Hernández, acknowledged the significance of the win, stating, "It's a clear victory that moves us closer to our goal of finishing in second place."
Meanwhile, Real Betis faced a setback as they were held to a 2-2 draw against Las Palmas. The match saw playmaker Isco sustain an injury after a hard knock in the first half, adding to Betis' woes as midfielder Guido Rodriguez also exited early due to a muscle injury.
Despite Betis' initial sixth-place standing, the draw pushed them down to seventh after Real Sociedad secured a 1-0 victory against Valencia. André Silva's early goal three minutes into the match secured the win for Sociedad, who had previously won only one of their last five matches.
Betis, now unbeaten in six matches with four wins and two draws, faces Sociedad in the next round. Manager Manuel Pellegrini expressed his disappointment over the injuries, stating, "We are not happy but we played a good game. We lost two important players and had to make two early changes."
Isco, a potential member of Spain's squad for the European Championship, was substituted in the 39th minute, while Rodriguez exited in the 20th minute due to their injuries.
The draw ended Las Palmas' eight-match losing streak but extended their winless run to 12 straight league games. Despite sitting in 14th place, Las Palmas continues to struggle for consistency in their performance.
