MADRID —
Barcelona is making sure there will be a three-way fight for the Spanish league
title.
The Catalan club moved closer to rivals Real Madrid and
Atletico Madrid at the top of the standings on Sunday by routing Sevilla 4-1.
Robert Lewandowski, Fermín López, Raphinha and Eric García
scored a goal each as Barcelona took advantage of the 1-1 draw between Madrid
and Atletico in the capital derby on Saturday.
Third-placed Barcelona is now two points behind leader
Madrid and one point behind Atletico.
Barcelona had a comfortable away win despite playing with 10
men from the 62nd when López was sent off for a hard foul. The red card was
shown after a video review.
It was the third straight league win for Barcelona, and its
ninth victory in 11 matches across all competitions.
Sevilla, in 13th place, has won only one of its last five
league games.
Lewandowski put Barcelona ahead in the seventh minute with
his eighth goal in his last nine games in all competitions. Ruben Vargas
equalized a minute later for the hosts before López put Barcelona back in front
in the 46th. Raphinha added to the lead in the 55th and García sealed the win in
the 89th.
“We needed to win to stay in contention and put some
pressure on our rivals,” Barcelona defender Iñigo Martínez said. “The team is
playing with a lot of confidence right now and we know that we can still
improve. We need to stay on this track.”
Defender Jules Koundé made his 124th appearance for
Barcelona, equaling the mark of Ludovic Giuly in fifth place for the most
appearances for Barcelona by a French player. Éric Abidal tops that list with
193 appearances.
