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La Liga | Gameweek 21
Jan 27, 2019 at 3.15pm UK
 
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Semedo (9'), Messi (68')

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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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Osasuna146441922-322
6GironaGirona146352018221
7Mallorca146351312121
8Athletic Bilbao135531913620
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad135351110118
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179
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