Madrid: Barcelona closed in on their eighth La Liga title in 11 years after Clement Lenglet and Jordi Alba both scored Saturday in a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad.
Victory means Barca only have to beat Alaves, Tuesday and then Levante next Saturday to be crowned champions at Camp Nou, while three points against Alaves will be enough on its own if Atletico Madrid then lose Wednesday to Valencia.
Whether in three days or seven, it is now surely only a matter of when rather than if Ernesto Valverde’’s side successfully defend their trophy, despite Atletico keeping the gap to nine points after they edged past Eibar earlier, Saturday.
“We have to get it out of our heads that we are nine points clear,” Valverde said after the game. “We now have three days until we play again and it will be difficult.”
Wrapping it up early though would allow Barcelona the luxury of focusing completely on the Champions League, which could give them an advantage over their semifinal opponents Liverpool, who seem to be embroiled in a Premier League race to the finish with Manchester City.
But this was no stroll, with Real Sociedad pulling level in the second half thanks to Juanmi’s equaliser, even if parity lasted less than two minutes.
Lionel Messi might not have scored but it was his cute pass that teed up the excellent Alba to score the winner after Lenglet had earlier powered in a header from Ousmane Dembele’s cross.
Barcelona may have stumbled out of the blocks this season but they are now tearing down the home straight. This was their 21st league game without defeat while Real Madrid sit 16 points behind them ahead of their game Sunday at home to Athletic Bilbao.
It was a surprise when Messi failed to score with two free-kicks in the first half while Sociedad could have been in front but Juanmi was denied by Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Willian Jose spurned the rebound.
There was nothing complicated about Lenglet’s opener, the Frenchman rising high above two defenders and heading into the corner for his first league goal in a Barcelona shirt.
Ter Stegen and Alba were fortunate not to be punished for a mix-up and then Real Sociedad did score, in the 62nd minute, as Juanmi slid to connect with Mikel Merino’s brilliant through ball. But in the 64th minute, Barca were ahead again as Messi weaved one way and then the other before finding Alba to his left. The defender jinked inside and drove a shot into the far corner.