Barcelona beat Real Madrid to edge closer to La Liga title

MADRID: After knocking them out of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, Barcelona returned to the Santiago Bernabeu for a 1-0 victory against Real Madrid on Saturday that surely eliminates their greatest rivals from the title race too.

Ivan Rakitic’s goal all but ended Madrid’s faint title hopes as Barcelona moved 10 points clear at the top of La Liga.

Rakitic kept his composure to beat Thibaut Courtois after a one-two with Sergi Roberto split Real's defence.

Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane were denied towards the end, but Real rarely looked like equalising at the Bernabeu.

They are third on the table, 12 points behind Barcelona with 12 games left.

Atletico Madrid, who are second, will cut Barca’s lead at the top to seven points if they win at Real Sociedad on Sunday