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La Liga | Gameweek 21
Jan 27, 2019 at 3.15pm UK
 
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Valverde turns attention to Copa del Rey after Barcelona win again in LaLiga

:Headline: Valverde turns attention to Copa del Rey after Barcelona win again in LaLiga: ID:348141: from db_amp
Barca are five points clear at the top of LaLiga.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde immediately turned his attention to Wednesday's vital Copa del Rey quarter-final after his side recorded an eighth successive LaLiga victory.

The leaders restored their five-point advantage at the top with a 2-0 win over Girona on Sunday after Nelson Semedo's first goal for the club was followed by Lionel Messi's 19th league strike of the season.

The winning run is the best under Valverde's management, but the Barca boss is already thinking about overturning a 2-0 deficit in the second leg of their cup tie at home to Sevilla in midweek.

"Today's match was key because it's a derby and because we know how Girona play, as they're an intense and great team, but now we'll recover tomorrow and start thinking about Wednesday," he said in his post-match press conference, according to Marca.

"Our hope is to go through. We made changes the other day (leaving out the likes of Messi and Sergio Busquets) with respect to today's line-up.

"We have three matches in six days this week and there's also a very important one against Valencia (on Saturday), but it's true that what matters to us right now is the Copa del Rey.

"I don't want another result like the other day."

Valverde also defended Philippe Coutinho, who has scored just once in the last 15 matches and failed to sparkle again against Girona, who had Bernardo Espinosa sent off before Messi made the game safe.

"What I like about him is that he always tries things and takes on his man," the Barca boss added about Coutinho.

"It might work or it might not. He had chances today, but didn't score because their goalkeeper is excellent.

"He'll convert other chances soon."

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1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97
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