Barcelona top Cadiz 2-0 to go 8 points clear in LaLiga

Sports Desk, Feb 19 (EFE).- LaLiga leaders FC Barcelona defeated 16th-place Cadiz 2-0 Sunday to restore their 8-point advantage over defending champions Real Madrid.

Mindful of next Thursday’s Europa League playoff second leg at Old Trafford against Manchester United, coach Xavi Hernandez made multiple changes to the starting 11.

Benefiting from the rotation were Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen, Sergi Roberto, Ansu Fati and the returning-from-injury Ferran Torres.

And the first chance of the night fell to Garcia, who headed wide of the target in the 5th minute.

Roger put the ball in the net for visiting Cadiz in the 19th, but a VAR review showed the striker was offside.

Torres, who showed no signs of rust, probably should have scored in the 21st and went on to contribute to the breakthrough goal in the 43rd minute.

The former Manchester City man delivered a pinpoint cross to Robert Lewandowski and though keeper Conan Ledesma stopped the initial header, Roberto was able to knock in the rebound to make it 1-0 for the hosts.

Lewandowski, assisted by Roberto, doubled the advantage in first-half stoppage time with his 15th LaLiga goal of the campaign.

The Polish striker nearly got a second in the 57th minute, two minutes before Roger had a second goal disallowed, this time for a attacking foul against keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

The Barcelona stopper was tested in rapid succession by late subs Federico San Emeterio and Chris Ramos, while the post denied Cadiz’s Anthony Lozano in the 87th minute. EFE

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