Barcelona and Real Madrid warmed up for their respective Champions
League semi-final first legs with victories in the Primera Division, but
neither side had it as easy as they would have liked.
Barcelona, who take on Bayern Munich in Germany on Tuesday, needed an 84th-minute goal from Cesc Fabregas to earn a 1-0 win over Levante at the Nou Camp after David Villa had missed a first-half penalty.
It may not have been the most clinical of performances from a Barca side missing star man Lionel Messi but the victory restored the Catalan club's 13-point lead at the top of the standings after nearest challengers Madrid had beaten Real Betis 3-1 earlier in the evening.
With six games remaining, that means Barca could clinch the title next weekend if they beat Athletic Bilbao away from home and defending champions Madrid slip up against local rivals Atletico at the Vicente Calderón.
More good news to come out of the match for Barcelona was that fullback Eric Abidal made his first start for the club since February 2012, having undergone liver surgery last year.
Earlier, Real Madrid looked well in control of their home clash with Real Betis when Karim Benzema made it 2-0 in the 57th minute to add to Mesut Ozil's opener on the stroke of half-time.
However, Jose Mourinho's men very nearly let that advantage slip with Betis pulling a goal back in the 71st minute through Jorge Molina's penalty before the Andalusian side hit the woodwork in the 87th minute through Ruben Castro.
That was a huge escape for Madrid and they made the most of it with Ozil - in his 150th competition match for the club - netting his second of the night late on with a close-range finish.
The win is just what Madrid would have been hoping for heading into a crucial 10 days which sees them play Borussia Dortmund home and away in the Champions League and also face bitter rivals Atletico in La Liga.
The win came at a cost though with Marcelo and Luka Modric both limping out of the game with injuries.
Barcelona, who take on Bayern Munich in Germany on Tuesday, needed an 84th-minute goal from Cesc Fabregas to earn a 1-0 win over Levante at the Nou Camp after David Villa had missed a first-half penalty.
It may not have been the most clinical of performances from a Barca side missing star man Lionel Messi but the victory restored the Catalan club's 13-point lead at the top of the standings after nearest challengers Madrid had beaten Real Betis 3-1 earlier in the evening.
With six games remaining, that means Barca could clinch the title next weekend if they beat Athletic Bilbao away from home and defending champions Madrid slip up against local rivals Atletico at the Vicente Calderón.
More good news to come out of the match for Barcelona was that fullback Eric Abidal made his first start for the club since February 2012, having undergone liver surgery last year.
Earlier, Real Madrid looked well in control of their home clash with Real Betis when Karim Benzema made it 2-0 in the 57th minute to add to Mesut Ozil's opener on the stroke of half-time.
However, Jose Mourinho's men very nearly let that advantage slip with Betis pulling a goal back in the 71st minute through Jorge Molina's penalty before the Andalusian side hit the woodwork in the 87th minute through Ruben Castro.
That was a huge escape for Madrid and they made the most of it with Ozil - in his 150th competition match for the club - netting his second of the night late on with a close-range finish.
The win is just what Madrid would have been hoping for heading into a crucial 10 days which sees them play Borussia Dortmund home and away in the Champions League and also face bitter rivals Atletico in La Liga.
The win came at a cost though with Marcelo and Luka Modric both limping out of the game with injuries.
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