Pedri secures win at Villarreal to keep Barcelona on track for LaLiga title

Barcelona took advantage of Real Madrid’s absence this weekend to move 11 points clear atop LaLiga as Pedri’s first-half strike secured a 1-0 win at Villarreal.

A one-two with Robert Lewandowski allowed Pedri to slip beyond the Villarreal defence and finish beyond former Barcelona goalkeeper Pepe Reina in the 18th minute, and there was no way back for the hosts.

Real have been in action in the Club World Cup this week, beating Al-Hilal 5-3 in Saturday’s final, but Los Blancos can eat into a sizeable deficit when they take on rock-bottom Elche on Wednesday.

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Memphis Depay grabbed his first goal since swapping Barcelona for Atletico Madrid in last month’s transfer window, swivelling and dragging beyond Celta Vigo goalkeeper Ivan Villar in the 89th minute.

Atletico were reduced to 10 men after 70 minutes following last man Stefan Savic’s foul on Haris Seferovic but, with a stalemate looming, Depay struck late on as the visitors won 1-0.

Rayo Vallecano remain sixth after being held to a 1-1 draw at Getafe while Real Valladolid and Osasuna finished goalless.

Runaway Serie A leaders Napoli claimed their sixth successive victory, easing past bottom-of-the-table Cremonese 3-0.

Goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Victor Osimhen and Eljif Elmas saw Napoli – chasing a first top-flight title since 1990 – move 16 points clear of Inter Milan, who play Sampdoria on Monday.

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