Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat at Villarreal on Saturday and striker Gerard Moreno gave Barcelona an opportunity to maneuver forward within the title race.
Real are second, stage on 38 factors with Barca, who go to fourth-placed Atletico Madrid on Sunday, whereas Villarreal’s third consecutive league win has lifted them to fifth.
Villarreal dominated from the outset, with Francis Coquelin putting the woodwork within the fifth minute earlier than Yérémy Pino was denied by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from shut vary, however the hosts have been unable to interrupt the impasse within the first half.
However, Villarreal pulled no punches after the break and stored the stress on within the forty seventh minute when Moreno freed Pino to fireplace a fierce shot into the web.
Villarreal have been briefly pegged again when a handball by Juan Foyth gave the guests a penalty, which was expertly dispatched by Karim Benzema on the hour.
The hosts have been awarded a penalty two minutes later when David Alaba dealt with the ball. Moreno transformed from the spot after Madrid’s protests had subsided, sending Courtois the flawed solution to safe the win.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
