Not so fast: Barcelona win to delay Real Madrid’s looming title celebration

MADRID:  Barcelona defeated Real Sociedad 1-0 on Thursday to make sure Real Madrid will have to wait at least another week to celebrate the Spanish league title.

Barcelona's away victory reduced their gap to Madrid to 15 points, and it can further cut it to 12 points on Sunday if they defeat Rayo Vallecano at home in a game they have in hand.

Barcelona and Madrid, who won 3-1 at Osasuna on Wednesday, will have five games left. Madrid, trying to clinch their second title in three seasons, don’t play this weekend.

“Madrid was lucky that it took a while for us to join the fight,” Barcelona defender Dani Alves said.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored with a close-range header in the 11th minute to give Barcelona their  first win after consecutive home losses against Cadiz in the league and Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League. The Catalan club had not lost two straight home games since 2003.

The victory against Sociedad left Barcelona tied on points with Sevilla, who defeated Levante earlier Thursday to stay in position to secure a Champions League place next season. Second place also is important as it guarantees a spot in the Spanish Super Cup.

“We suffered a lot but in the end we got three golden points and stayed in second place,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said. “It was an important victory even though we didn’t play too well.”

Defending champion Atletico Madrid, who were held to a 0-0 home draw against relegation-threatened Granada on Wednesday, stayed two points behind Barcelona and Sevilla. Fifth-place Real Betis trailed Atletico by four points and was two ahead of Sociedad.

Sociedad have not beaten Barcelona in 12 straight league matches. The Basque Country club hadn't lost in seven consecutive league