FC Barcelona navigated a gritty 1-0 home win against Celta Vigo in La Liga, pulling nine points clear of rivals Real Madrid. Victory came at a cost, however, as teenage sensation Lamine Yamal exited with a hamstring injury after earning and scoring a crucial penalty.
The first half saw Celta Vigo threaten on the break, testing Barcelona’s backline repeatedly. Yamal’s moment of magic arrived as he sliced through the defense, winning a penalty that he duly dispatched. But the joy was short-lived; the effort triggered a hamstring tweak, sidelining the prodigy for what could be weeks.
A spectator medical incident paused proceedings for 15 minutes, heightening the atmosphere. Post-resumption, Ferran Torres’ strike was disallowed by VAR for offside, but Barcelona’s resilience shone through, clinching three vital points.
Atletico Madrid’s post-Copa del Rey woes continued with a 3-2 loss to Elche despite major lineup tweaks by Diego Simeone. Elche’s Nico Gonzalez netted twice early, matched by Engengruber and Silva’s penalty following Almada’s dismissal. Silva’s second sealed Elche’s escape from relegation danger, pushing Alaves deeper into trouble.
Getafe stunned Real Sociedad 1-0 away, surging to sixth place. Real Madrid prevailed 2-1 over Alaves, Betis edged Girona 3-2 in a thriller, while Athletic Club-Osasuna, Mallorca-Valencia ended 1-1. La Liga’s mid-table and survival fights grow fiercer with every matchday.
