Real Madrid made up ground on leaders FC Barcelona in the fight for the Spanish soccer championship on Thursday evening (February 2nd, 2023).
The defending champion won the catch-up game on Matchday 17 against FC Valencia 2-0 (0-0). Marco Asensio (52nd minute) and Vinicius Junior (55th) ensured the success with a double strike. With the home win, Champions League winners Madrid reduced the gap to Barcelona to five points.
Ruediger’s goal disallowed
In added time in the first half, a goal by German international Antonio Rüdiger for Real was disallowed after video evidence because French striker Karim Benzema had previously committed a foul in the penalty area.
Valencia ended the game a man down after Gabriel Paulista was sent off in the 72nd minute for a gross foul.
Barcelona defeat Betis Sevilla
The day before, FC Barcelona had won their catch-up game at Betis Sevilla after a hard fight. Barca found it extremely difficult to win 2-1 (0-0) against the very stable and tough Andalusians, but did not allow much against the sixth-placed team.
Raphinha (r.) celebrates his goal for Barcelona against Betis Sevilla.
It wasn’t until the 65th minute that Alex Baldé pulled away on the left wing after a quick free kick and put the ball sharply across in front of goal. Raphinha rushed up to the second post and pushed the ball over the line from close range to make it 1-0.
Lewandowski also scores
The ex-Munich and Dortmund player Robert Lewandowski hardly ever developed in this game, but in the 80th minute he proved once again that you shouldn’t give him too much space on such evenings. Ronald Araújo extended a corner kick into the middle of the penalty area, Lewandowski took it briefly and finished dryly from nine meters to make it 2-0.
Shortly thereafter, Baldé missed the preliminary decision and Betis actually came back into the game. When the Barca defense went over on the left, Jules Koundé blundered when trying to clear and maneuvered the ball over his own goal line: 1: 2 in the 85th minute. After that, Barcelona with national goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen kept their nerves and saved the three points over time despite a storm by Betis.
Strong series from Barcelona
Barcelona have now been unbeaten in 14 competitive games. The club’s last defeat so far came in a 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on October 26 last year.
