MADRID - Real Madrid retains an eight-point lead at the top of La Liga after it and FC Barcelona claimed narrow away victories on Saturday.
Aurelian Tchouameni's deflected 47th-minute shot gave Real Madrid a 1-0 win away to a rugged Mallorca, with Andriy Lunin assuring the win with an excellent save from Mallorca's Sergi Darder in the second half.
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez rested a host of key players for his side's 1-0 win in Cadiz, with Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong and Ilkay Gundogan among those who were rested.
It was far from a vintage Barca display against a rival fighting to avoid relegation, but a moment of magic from Joao Felix, who scored an overhead kick in the 36th minute, means Barca will travel to play Real Madrid next weekend with a slim chance of retaining the title
It was far from a vintage Barca display against a rival fighting to avoid relegation, but a moment of magic from Joao Felix, who scored an overhead kick in the 36th minute, means Barca will travel to play Real Madrid next weekend with a slim chance of retaining the title.
Artem Dovbyk put Girona ahead after just four minutes away to Atletico Madrid, but the home side showed their effectiveness in front of goal, with an Antoine Griezmann penalty leveling the score after the half-hour.
Angel Correa's header on the stroke of halftime put Atletico ahead and Griezmann's right-foot shot five minutes after the break assured the win against a rival that wasted several chances to score.
Atletico opened a four-point lead over Athletic Club after the Copa del Rey winner was denied a win at home to Villarreal after a VAR decision that awarded Villarreal a 94th-minute penalty for handball against Yuri Berchiche after the ball had rebounded off the defender's leg.
Villarreal striker Gerard Moreno hit a 10th-minute penalty against the post and Athletic took the lead midway through the second half through Oihan Sancet, but although the referee failed to give two penalties for shirt-pulling on Nico Williams and Sancet, he gave the penalty that saw the points shared.
Real Sociedad was unable to close the gap on Athletic after drawing 2-2 at home to bottom-of-the-table Almeria with Adri Embarba's two goals giving the visitors a point after Sheraldo Becker and Mikel Oyarzabal scored for the home side.
Granada claimed its third win of the season as first-half goals from Myrto Uzuni and Lucas Boye gave saw them defeat a poor Alaves 2-0, with Alaves coach Luis Garcia saying it was his side's worst display of the season
Sevilla won 2-0 away to Las Palmas to end any lingering relegation doubts, thanks to a 43rd-minute goal from Youssef En-Nesyri and a 93rd-minute strike from Dodi Lukebakio, although their task was made a lot easier by the fifth-minute red card shown to Las Palmas defender Saul Coco for a professional foul.
Rayo Vallecano and Getafe drew a dull South Madrid derby 0-0, which moved the home side a point closer to safety while denting Getafe's slight hopes of playing in Europe next season.
Betis ended a four-game losing run with a 2-1 win at home to Celta Vigo on Friday. Joan Miranda and Nabil Fekir scored for Betis, with Jorgen Strand Larsen netting a late consolation for Celta, who remains deep in trouble.
