Joao Felix’s overhead kick sealed Barcelona’s 1-0 win over lowly Cádiz and lifted his side back to within eight points of La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
Felix converted a 1st-half corner with a bicycle kick and, with the help of two crucial saves from goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Barca extended their winning streak in all competitions to 6 games.
Barca, who won the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg 3-2 against Paris St Germain in midweek, are now unbeaten in 13 years ahead of next weekend’s El Clasico at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
Cádiz have boosted their survival hopes by winning two of their previous three in La Liga and had their chances but remain three points from safety.
Felix’s strike lit up the first half with several clear-cut chances in which Cádiz came close to taking the lead in the 22nd minute when Javi Hernandez’s hard angle forced Ter Stegen into a sharp save near the post.
But Barca took the lead in the 37th minute when they got their first real shot from a corner. Sergi Roberto headed the ball in and Joao Felix turned and sent a bicycle kick past Cádiz goalkeeper Conan Ledesma’s right post for his sixth league goal of the season.
Barca should have extended their lead shortly before half-time when Fermin Lopez found the ball on the right side of the box, but his shot on goal was brilliantly blocked by Cádiz defender Victor Chust.
Cádiz thought they had made the ideal start to the second period when Juanmi turned home Iza Carcelen’s low ball into the box, but the effort was ruled out as the striker was offside.
Chust then headed just wide for the home side, whose appeals for a penalty when the ball appeared to hit Barca defender Pau Cubarsi on the arm were waved away, with VAR not judging the incident.
Felix came close to doubling Barca’s lead with his first-time effort from a Ferran Torres cross as the action wore on.
Barcelona were indebted to Ter Stegen with 10 minutes remaining when the German goalkeeper made a flying save from Diadie Samasseka’s long-range shot to preserve their slender lead.
After Real’s 1-0 win in Mallorca on Saturday, Barcelona moved back to eight points ahead of Sunday’s showdown between La Liga’s top two.
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