Raphinha and Fermin Lopez spared Barcelona’s blushes with a gritty 2-1 comeback win at relegated Valladolid on Saturday, preserving their La Liga title push on monitor forward of an important Champions League conflict at Inter Milan.
Raphinha, introduced on at halftime, leveled the rating within the 54th minute earlier than Lopez – Barcelona’s unsung hero this season – slotted house the winner simply six minutes later.
Coach Hansi Flick performed with fireplace by rotating his beginning XI forward of Tuesday’s journey to Milan, the place Barcelona and Inter will look to tip the steadiness of their semifinal after a 3-3 thriller this week in Spain.
Valladolid made a stunning begin when Ivan Sanchez’s shot deflected off Ronald Araújo, hit the turf and looped over goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who was making his first begin since recovering from a proper knee damage in September.
Barcelona stalled till Lamine Yamal changed injured debutant Daniel Rodríguez, whose first recreation ended after simply over half an hour when he damage his proper arm.
Raphinha changed an ineffective Ansu Fati at halftime. The Brazil ahead, who has come by means of within the clutch for Barcelona this season, drilled in a unfastened ball after goalkeeper Andre Ferreira punched a cross by Yamal to the sting of the realm. Lopez adopted up moments later with a exact, low strike into the nook.
Yamal had a goal-bound shot cleared off the road by Valladolid’s Antonio Candela within the eightieth minute. The 17-year-old additionally delivered the dribble of the match, spinning previous two defenders with the ball glued to his toes.
Barcelona opened a seven-point hole over Real Madrid, which it beat final weekend within the Copa del Rey closing to ignite its bid for a treble.
Madrid hosts Celta Vigo on Sunday. After this spherical, 4 video games stay – together with a clasico in Barcelona subsequent weekend.
Source: www.dailysabah.com