Barcelona open 11 points clear in the Spanish league

Barcelona continue to win and move further away from Real Madrid at the top of the Spanish league.

Barcelona beat Villarreal 1-0 away on Sunday to extend their winning streak to 11 games in all competitions and their lead over second-placed Madrid to 11 points.

Madrid, who won the Club World Cup on Saturday, have played one game fewer than Barcelona.

Pedri scored in the 18th minute for Barcelona, ​​whose 11-game streak included beating Real Betis on penalties in the Spanish Super Cup and an overtime win in the Copa del Rey against Intercity.

Bottoms Villarreal have recorded just one win in their last six games in all competitions.

Villarreal started the game without injured striker Gerard Moreno and lost midfielder Francis Coquelin to a knee injury in the first half.

Barcelona were without captain Sergio Busquets and winger Ousmane Dembele through injury. Coach Xavi replaced midfielder Frenkie de Jong and striker Raphinha.

Barcelona host Manchester United in the Europa League on Thursday.

Memphis Depay scored his first goal since joining from Barcelona in the 88th minute as 10-man Atletico Madrid won 1-0 at Celta Vigo to remain fourth in last place in the Champions League.

Atletico needed a good performance from goalkeeper Jan Oblak and some help from the woodwork after defender Stefan Savic was sent off in the 70th.

Atletico went four points behind fifth-placed Betis with their third win in four league games. Celta dropped to 14th place.

Depay scored his first goal with Atletico from inside the box since joining from Barcelona in January.

Oblak made two outstanding stops after Savic was sent off, including a reflex save on the goal line in the 85th minute.

Veteran Celta striker Iago Aspas hit the bar after a free-kick that came after Savic’s red card for stopping a breakaway.

Penultimate Getafe earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano, thanks to a 77th-minute equalizer from Enes Unal and Rayo striker Raul de Tomas, who failed to score in the 87th just four minutes after coming in from the penalty spot scored the match.

Getafe, without a win in seven straight games in all competitions, played with 10 men from 54th place after Carles Alena was sent off with a second yellow card.

Getafe striker Borja Mayoral also failed to score a penalty just before Alena was sent off.

Rayo dropped to sixth place with the away draw.

Osasuna’s league winning streak spanned four games after a 0-0 draw at 13th-placed Valladolid, who clinched back-to-back wins after five straight defeats in all competitions.

Osasuna, who stayed ninth, have managed just one win in their last eight league games.

On Monday, third-placed Real Sociedad visit relegation-threatened Espanyol in a bid to end a three-game winning streak and move closer to second-placed Madrid.