Barcelona keep title race alive because they relegate rivals Espanyol
Barcelona kept their faint name hopes alive and doomed Espanyol to relegation on Wednesday while Luis Suarez's aim proved the winner found in a good pivotal Catalan derby at the very top and bottom level of La Liga.
A good cagey contest at Camp Nou exploded into lifestyle for six frantic mins at the start of the second 50 % as Ansu Fati and Pol Lozano were delivered off, leaving each aspect with 10 males before Suarez struck.
Suarez profitted after another exceptional contribution from a good reinvigorated Antoine Griezmann, his backheel establishing Lionel Messi to shoot, with Suarez turning in the rebound.
This 1-0 victory was a long way off from the sparkling 4-1 win over Villarreal on Sunday but it moves Barca to within a point of Real Madrid, who play their game at hand in the home to Alaves on Friday.
Espanyol, rooted to underneath of the table, can end up being relegated. They sit 11 factors adrift of safety with simply three game titles left to play.
"Life or death" browse the front page of Mundo Deportivo on Thursday morning - for Barcelona, who had to win to stay in touch with Madrid, and for Espanyol, granted they needed a success to prolong their survival effort.
Griezmann's mixture with Suarez and Messi, approaching after his sumptuous chip against Villarreal, sustains the Frenchman's momentum but this is more of a gritty win against a great Espanyol team that hit the post at 0-0 and had possibilities.
With the superior head-to-head and a sort last four fixtures, Real Madrid remain organization favourites.
"We need to win our up coming three games," said Suarez. "What Madrid carry out is certainly up to them. If indeed they drop points, superb. We have to become there if they do."
Espanyol had a need to win but include not beaten Barcelona found in the league seeing that 2009 when Mauricio Pochettino was first in control and Rufete, the team's fourth trainer this season, accepted Messi's commiserations in the ultimate whistle with a start looking of resignation.
The club's supporters this week expressed anger after a "shameful season" beneath the Chinese Rastar Group, which took majority control in 2016.
- 'Ask forgiveness' -
Only Barcelona, Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao have spent more seasons in the very best flight than Espanyol, who after 26 consecutive campaigns generally there must now rebuild.
"We ask forgiveness from our lovers," said Javi Lopez.
"We know they are tough moments for all of us but for our fans aswell. This season nothing at all has gone best. It's our fault and we are committed to coming back stronger."
Barcelona had most of the ball found in the first half but did little with it and actually Espanyol had the better probabilities on the counter-attack.
Adri Embarba sped apart down the proper after honing on target his finish needed to be blocked by the outstretched right leg of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Ter Stegen was called after again before half-time which time Didac Vila raced apparent down the kept, his shot rebounding off the goalkeeper and Clement Lenglet before falling back again to Vila, who hit the far post.
Quique Setien acted at the break, bringing Fati in and shifting Sergi Roberto to right-back but the 17-year-outdated lasted only 5 minutes, a high challenge on Fernando Calero earning found in him a straight crimson card on review.
But any advantage Espanyol had was short-resided because Lozano afterward flew in high on Gerard Pique, with his studs up, and was as well sent off to create it 10 against 10.
With the numbers equal however the spaces bigger, Barcelona could attack with greater freedom plus they took the lead 3 minutes later.
A delightful Griezmann backheel teed up Messi to shoot and the ball spilled out for Suarez to tap in.
Messi almost added another with a thumping volley at the trunk post while Espanyol wanted a penalty found in injury-time when a shot strike the shoulder of Arturo Vidal. The appeals had been rightly waved away.
Villarreal had earlier beaten Getafe 3-1 to lessen the gap at the rear of Sevilla found in fourth to three points.
Santi Cazorla scored two penalties for Villarreal to all-but end Getafe's own expectations of Champions League qualification. Sevilla play aside at Athletic Bilbao on Thursday.
