League leader Barcelona beats Cadiz 2-0 after turbulent week

MADRID: Barcelona left its problems off the field after a turbulent week to beat Cadiz 2-0 on Sunday and extended its winning streak and lead over Real Madrid in the Spanish league. Sergi Roberto and Robert Lewandowski scored a goal each late in the first half to give Barcelona its seventh straight league win and get its lead over second-place Madrid back to eight points. Madrid had cut the gap to five points with a 2-0 win at Osasuna on Saturday.

Barcelona’s home game at Camp Nou came after it became publicly known that a state prosecutor is probing Barcelona’s payment of millions of dollars over several years to a company that belonged to the vice president of the Spanish federation’s refereeing committee. Barcelona has been heavily criticized but denied any wrongdoing, saying it paid for reports on referees but never tried to influence their decisions in games. On the field, Roberto opened the scoring in the 43rd with a shot from the middle of the area after Lewandowski’s header off a cross by Ferran Torres was cleared by a defender on the goal line.

Lewandowski added to the lead before halftime with a low shot from just inside the area for his league-leading 15th goal – and first overall after three scoreless matches in all competitions. It was the 17th clean sheet for Barcelona in the league this season. Cadiz, coming off two wins in its last three matches, thought it had opened the scoring in the 19th but the goal by Roger was disallowed for offside.

The club from southern Spain dropped to 17th place, two points from the relegation zone. Barcelona coach Xavi made some changes to the lineup ahead of next Thursday’s trip to England to face Manchester United in the Europa League. The teams drew 2-2 in Barcelona last