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Barcelona edges last-place Almeria to end winless streak and regain 3rd place in Spanish league

Wed, Dec 20, 2023
Soccer News (AP)

MADRID (AP) - Barcelona earned a hard-fought 3-2 win over last-place Almeria to end a three-game winless streak and regain third place in the Spanish league on Wednesday.

Sergi Roberto scored twice and Raphinha once for Barcelona, which moved three points ahead of fourth-place Atletico Madrid. The Catalan club trails Real Madrid by four points and leader Girona by six points. Madrid visits Alaves on Thursday, while Girona is at Real Betis.

Almeria is the only team yet to win a Spanish league match this season. The Saudi-owned club hasn't won in 21 straight league games, going back to last season.

Barcelona struggled again, needing an 83rd-minute winner by Roberto to secure the home victory after twice relinquishing a lead.

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Raphinha had opened the scoring in the 33rd and Leo Baptistao equalized in the 41st. In the second half, Roberto put the hosts ahead again in the 60th before Edgar Gonzalez evened the match in the 71st after Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena collided with defender Ronald Araujo while going for a ball inside the area.

Barcelona was coming off a 1-1 draw at Valencia and a 4-2 loss to Girona at home. It also lost 3-2 to Antwerp to close out its group-stage campaign in the Champions League, although it advanced to the knockout round for the first time after two consecutive early eliminations.

Barcelona has won all of its eight home matches against Almeria in the league, but had lost its last game against the southern Spanish club in February. Barcelona had been unbeaten in its previous 13 matches against Almeria.

Almeria had drawn two of its last three league matches - 0-0 against Real Betis and 0-0 at Mallorca. It stayed in last place with five points - nine points from safety.

Almeria's lone win in 20 matches this season was against third-division club Tavalera in the first round of the Copa del Rey. It was eventually eliminated by fourth-division team Barbastro in the second round.

Barcelona played with a depleted squad that included the absences of the suspended Frenkie de Jong and the injured Pedri. Roberto started as the defensive midfielder.

Later Wednesday, fifth-place Athletic Bilbao hosts ninth-place Las Palmas, while Celta Vigo visits Villarreal in a match between clubs fighting against relegation.

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