Barcelona reclaim second spot with 2-0 win over Real Sociedad

BARCELONA: Barcelona reclaimed second place in LaLiga with a 2-0 home win over Real Sociedad on Monday courtesy of a Lamine Yamal first-half strike and a late Raphinha penalty.

Xavi Hernandez’s side leapfrogged Girona to move on to 76 points, one clear of their Catalan rivals who dropped points in Friday’s 2-2 draw at Alaves. Real Madrid have already secured the league title, sitting on 90 points with three games left.

“There is still a long way to go. It will be a battle to the end. Girona are very strong,” Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez told Movistar. “It’s in our hands now. I think the team is very good. Three valuable points. We had some mistakes in the first half. In the second half I think we could have finished it off earlier.”

Yamal put Barcelona ahead in the 40th minute when he coolly slotted home from Ilkay Gundogan’s pass after a quick breakaway for his fifth LaLiga goal this season. “It was an important game to regain second place and we have to try to make it a nine-point week,” the 16-year-old Yamal said referring to the upcoming games.

“Real did very well in the first half but then we were able to improve. There was good feeling in the whole team.” Raphinha’s penalty in stoppage time sealed victory for the hosts after a VAR review for handball, leaving the Basque side in seventh place with 54 points, one behind Real Betis in the last Europa League spot.

“Real always make it difficult for us. They are always very organised, aggressive, you don’t create danger for them,” Xavi told reporters. “It’s an important victory for us. We played a good game in general.”

Barcelona started the second half strongly with Raphinha twice coming close with fine long-range efforts. Real Sociedad almost levelled when Brais Mendez won the ball back high up and fired inches wide of Ter Stegen´s far post.

Remiro denied Barca substitute Ferran Torres and Yamal´s effort was deflected wide after a fine solo dribble with the hosts struggling to kill off the game. Eventually they managed it when Alvaro Odriozola´s handball led to a penalty -- with VAR calling the referee to check the incident long after it occurred -- and Raphinha dispatched it with aplomb. “They took a few minutes to go to the VAR (but) if they gave it then it was a penalty,” said Real Sociedad midfielder Benat Turrientes.