Barca hold on in Spain
Barcelona are still hanging on in the La Liga title fight after a nervy 1- 0 victory at Real Valladolid.
Arturo Vidal struck the only goal of the game with a fierce strike in off the post after Lionel Messi had played him in with a clever through ball.
The second-placed side were made to work for the three points against a plucky Valladolid team who are still fighting for their top-flight survival.
In a tense second half, keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s tremendous save from a Valladolid free-kick could end up keeping Los Cules in the title race.
And Vidal said: “It was a difficult game against a team that know how to play and they play very well.
“We knew we’d have to work hard and we had to maintain our rhythm throughout. We’ve kept ourselves in the title race and that’s the main thing.
“We just have to win all the games we have remaining, it doesn’t depend on us, we just have to do what we have to and then see what the other teams around us do.”
Barca must now hope for a slip-up from rivals Real Madrid, who sit one point ahead with a game in hand against Granada to be played tomorrow.
In Italy, Lazio’s Scudetto dream could be over after losing 2-1 to Sassuolo.
Luis Alberto put the Biancoceleste ahead in the first half but a second-half collapse wrecked the Rome side’s slim chances of winning Serie A.
Giacomo Raspadori found the leveller seven minutes into the second half before a shock added time winner from supersub Francesco Caputo.
Lazio’s city rivals Roma have the Europa League in their sights af ter a comfortable 3- 0 win over strugglers Brescia.
Second-half strikes from Federico Fazio, Nikola Kalinic and Nicolo Zaniolo secured the points for Paulo Fonseca’s side.