04/22/26 05:17:00
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04/22 17:15 CDT Barcelona edges Celta to restore 9-point lead over Real Madrid
but Yamal and Cancelo injured
Barcelona edges Celta to restore 9-point lead over Real Madrid but Yamal and
Cancelo injured
By TALES AZZONI
AP Sports Writer
MADRID (AP) --- Barcelona restored its nine-point lead over Real Madrid in the
Spanish league on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo during which Lamine
Yamal and Joao Cancelo were injured before halftime.
Yamal was hurt while converting a penalty that secured Barcelona's eighth
straight league victory.
Spain forward Yamal and Portugal defender Cancelo had to be replaced with
apparent muscle ailments that raise concerns ahead of the World Cup in June.
There were no immediate details about the severity of their injuries.
Yamal converted his penalty in the 40th minute and immediately looked to the
bench and signalled that he was hurt. He dropped to the ground as his teammates
arrived to celebrate, then appeared to grab the back of his left leg.
Yamal left the field on his own after being attended by doctors. He talked
briefly with coach Hansi Flick on the sidelines before walking into the
locker-room tunnel by himself.
Cancelo had already been replaced in the 24th for an apparent muscle injury to
his right leg.
The match was stopped for about 15 minutes shortly after Yamal converted the
penalty because a fan had to be attended by doctors in the stands.
Madrid had moved within six points of the lead with a 2-1 home win against
Alaves on Tuesday. There are six rounds left.
Atletico's slump
Atletico Madrid's league struggles continued with a 3-2 loss at Elche, its
fourth-consecutive match without a victory in the competition.
The visitors were a man down from the 30th after Thiago Almada was sent off for
grabbing an opponent inside the area.
It was Atletico's first match since losing the Copa del Rey final to Real
Sociedad in a penalty shootout. Before that, Diego Simeone's team had
eliminated Barcelona in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Atletico has only one win in its last eight matches in all competitions --- 2-0
at Barcelona in the first leg. It advanced to the semifinals despite a 2-1 loss
at home.
Andr Silva scored twice for Elche, including the 75th-minute winner. He had
already converted a first-half penalty caused by Almada's foul.
Elche is out of the relegation zone with the victory, its third in four matches.
Sociedad's Copa celebrations were marred by a 1-0 loss to visiting Getafe,
which moved into sixth place with its seventh win in 10 matches. Sociedad
stayed eighth.
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