Torres earns Barcelona narrow win over Atletico

Ferran Torres’s strike helped Barcelona emerge from a current droop to earn a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday in La Liga, taking a huge step closer to clinching their first title because 2019.

Sevilla, fresh from thrashing Manchester United inside the Europa League, snatched a late winner to conquer high-flying Villarreal 2-1, with Youssef En-Nesyri heading home in stoppage time.After two consecutive goalless attracts for Barca, 2d-vicinity Real Madrid cut into their lead via beating Celta Vigo on Saturday, but Torres’s low first-half of finish restored their benefit to eleven points with 8 video games final.

Diego Simeone’s Atletico, third, arrived as Spain’s maximum in-form side but Torres stroked home from the edge of the box in the 44th minute to secure victory for Xavi Hernandez’s facet.

Both facets had clear chances to score inside the second half however Barcelona held on to their cause inflict Atletico’s first defeat on account that those sides met in January at the Metropolitano.

The hosts recorded a twenty third clean sheet of the season in La Liga, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen creating a best keep to deny Antoine Griezmann an equaliser.

“I’ve continually stated Marc is the various top 3 goalkeepers in the world, and for our sport, I suppose he is the pleasant,” Xavi instructed newshounds.

“He’s a guarantee, our defence too – protecting work is essential and Marc has been decisive at diverse moments.”Xavi delivered Frenkie de Jong back into the starting line-up after damage, however Pedri had to make do with a seat at the bench after his two-month absence.

Griezmann almost struck straight away towards his former side, rattling the crossbar with a high-quality effort from distance inside the first minute.

Barcelona broke the deadlock just before the c language, with Raphinha controlling an extended ball and crossing to Torres on the edge of the field, who swept the ball domestic past Jan Oblak.

It became Barcelona’s first intention considering the fact that Torres’ strike against Elche on April 1, ending a painful run of three video games without finding the internet.

Barcelona brought on Pedri to roars from the Camp Nou inside the second half.

Gavi and Raphinha both mishit efforts from point-clean variety inside the space of some seconds that have to have placed the sport out of reach, before Ter Stegen palmed away Griezmann’s foxy flick.

“It’s a truth that being decisive makes you champions – in case you’re strong in both containers, you have a miles larger hazard of being champions,” stated Simeone.

Barcelona had some other golden opportunity to score a second but Robert Lewandowski selfishly shot extensive from distance as he and Raphinha ran thru on aim.

A simple pass could have left the Brazilian with an open aim, but determined to improve his negative goalscoring form in 2023 – he only has four league goals because the flip of the yr – Lewandowski went by myself and scuffed his attempt huge.

“Ferran is the happiest man inside the international; Raphinha and Lewandowski are a bit unhappy,” Xavi added.

“Happy due to the fact the crew has won, however sad due to the fact they have not scored. Lewandowski is the top scorer with 17 goals – consider how all the others sense.”

The Polish striker turned into no longer punished for his profligacy as Barcelona survived a past due handball appeal against Sergio Busquets to triumph.

After knocking Premier League giants Man United out of the Europa League in midweek, Sevilla produced any other fantastic victory in opposition to Villarreal, 6th.

Since educate Jose Luis Mendilibar arrived the Andalusians are unbeaten in six video games and some distance more strong than beneath his predecessor Jorge Sampaoli, mountain climbing to twelfth, eight factors above the lowest 3.