Barcelona missed several clear chances but still moved four points clear at the top of La Liga with a 3-1 win at Elche on Saturday. Goals from Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford sealed the victory.
Third-placed Atletico Madrid dropped points with a 0-0 draw away to Levante, while Villarreal were held to a 2-2 draw by Osasuna.
Real Madrid, in second place, host Rayo Vallecano on Sunday and can cut the gap at the top to one point with a win.
Barcelona created many chances during the match but struggled to finish them.
Elche also had moments going forward, but Barca controlled most of the game.
Coach Hansi Flick said his team should have decided the match earlier but was satisfied with the three points.
"In the first half you have to decide this game, I like (it more) when the players turn their chances into goals," Flick told reporters.
"We created a lot of chances but we missed them in front of goal, this is the bad thing, but in the end I told the team I'm happy with the three points and congratulations on this performance."
Yamal opened the scoring in the sixth minute after being played through by Dani Olmo.
Elche equalised later in the first half with a move that caught Barcelona’s defence high up the pitch.
Torres missed a clear chance soon after, hitting the bar and post in quick succession, but he scored before half-time after a pass from Frenkie de Jong.
In the second half, Barcelona continued to create openings but failed to add a goal until late on.
Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, missed an early chance after coming on but later scored Barca’s third which was his 10th of the season, after Yamal’s cross was blocked.
"Normally we have players who finish very well, maybe in a game you miss your chances, but the important thing is that we're generating them," De Jong told Movistar.
Atletico, Villarreal drop points in drawsAtletico struggled to break down Levante and now sit 10 points behind Barcelona.
They have won only once in their last four matches. Alexander Sorloth and Pablo Barrios were both forced off injured, which affected Atletico’s performance.
"It hurts not to get the three points today," admitted Atletico defender Robin Le Normand.
To make matters worse for Atletico striker Alexander Sorloth and midfielder Pablo Barrios went off injured.
They lost Sorloth after a clash of heads with Matias Moreno and the Norwegian striker was taken to hospital for further tests.
Barrios limped off early in the second half and Atletico, who had started well, struggled to create many openings after that, missing the energetic midfielder.
Simeone, who has pushed for Atletico to sign more players, said the potential injury absences would force him to think about what to do.
"It enhances creativity, the coach's work. As a coach, it's good to be challenged to improve, and this helps me improve," he said.
Villarreal led twice through Gerard Moreno but they could only manage to draw at Osasuna.
They remain fourth in the table, eight points clear of fifth-placed Espanyol, who lost 2-1 to Alaves.
"We wanted to win but I think we have to leave satisfied, because we got a point after two games without (getting any)," Moreno told Movistar.
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