Barcelona, the Spanish champions, reduced the difference with Real Madrid to five points in La Liga after a 1-0 victory against 10-man Las Palmas on Saturday.
Raphinha scored with a header in the second half to secure Barcelona's win following the dismissal of Las Palmas' goalkeeper, Alvaro Valles, after 24 minutes for a reckless foul.
Barcelona prepared for their upcoming Champions League quarter-final match against Paris Saint-Germain with a straightforward but tight 1-0 win.
Xavi Hernandez’s team has not lost a match in 11 games since the coach announced his departure at the end of the season. Their recent performance has given them a slight hope of defending their title.
Real Madrid will play Athletic Bilbao on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu, aiming to restore their eight-point lead.
Barcelona dominated the early part of the game against Las Palmas, with Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha both having goals disallowed for offside.
Polish striker Lewandowski hit the crossbar on another occasion as Xavi’s team controlled the game, although former Barca forward Sandro Ramirez threatened at the other end before taking a weak shot.
Las Palmas' goalkeeper Valles was sent off after 24 minutes for rushing out of his goal and colliding with Raphinha.
Lewandowski struck the crossbar again from Joao Cancelo’s cross and Raphinha narrowly missed scoring as Barcelona continued to press for the opening goal.
With 10 men, Las Palmas adopted a more defensive approach and tried to frustrate the Catalans, although they nearly scored when defender Saul Coco smashed a powerful free-kick into the side-netting.
Winger Marvin Park, on loan at Las Palmas from Real Madrid, forced a sharp low save by Marc-Andre ter Stegen a minute before Barcelona took the lead.
Substitute Joao Felix delivered a magnificent scooped pass into the area for Raphinha to score his fifth La Liga goal of the season.
The Brazilian winger made a sarcastic celebration, drawing a VAR television screen, in reference to his earlier disallowed goal.
Felix had the opportunity to double Barcelona’s lead when Jules Kounde rolled the ball across the face of the goal for him, but he struck the crossbar when it seemed easier to score.
Ferran Torres made his comeback from a hamstring injury in the final stages, replacing teen starlet Lamine Yamal, who had a quiet night compared to his performance for Spain against Brazil on Tuesday.
Lewandowski, who was booked for leaving the field slowly as he was substituted by Vitor Roque, will miss Barcelona’s next league match against Cadiz but will return for the crucial Clasico battle against Real Madrid on April 21.
Sevilla secured a 1-0 victory against Getafe on Saturday thanks to an early Sergio Ramos goal, while Valencia drew 0-0 with Real Mallorca and Osasuna won 3-0 against Almeria.
AFP
