Barca powers ahead in title race as Madrid stumbles

In three days, Barcelona has enjoyed seeing rival Real Madrid take two blows.

After beating Madrid 1-0 in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Barcelona kept its title-chasing momentum in the Spanish league by defeating Valencia 1-0 and increasing its lead over second-place Madrid to nine points. Madrid couldn't keep pace with the Catalan club later Sunday after being held to a 0-0 draw at Real Betis.

Raphinha scored a first-half winner for Barcelona, which missed a penalty from Ferran Torres early in the second half and then saw defender Ronald Araujo sent off.

Real Madrid was mostly in control against Betis, but Vinicius Jr, Karim Benzema and Rodrygo failed to capitalize on their scoring chances.

Barcelona and Madrid will play their final league game on March 19 at Camp Nou.

"It's not over yet," Madrid's Lucas Vazquez said. "We know it's going to be tough, but we will fight until the end. We really think we can make a run."

"We lacked a bit of accuracy in the final third, the last pass to create clearer chances and we don't leave here happy, at all," Vazquez added.

"No (the league is not lost), we're in March, we know it is complicated and we will fight until the end because we truly believe that we can turn it around."

Carlo Ancelotti set up in a 4-4-2 formation with Vinicius and Fede Valverde on the wings, and Rodrygo partnering Benzema up front.

Betis was missing injured playmakers Nabil Fekir and Sergio Canales, although the latter should return to face Manchester United on Thursday in the Europa League.

Barcelona had lost two in a row — against Manchester United in the Europa League and Almeria in the league — before coming up with the big Copa victory against Madrid at the Bernabeu.

Raphinha scored against Valencia with a header after a well-placed pass by Sergio Busquets in the 15th minute. Torres missed his spot-kick in the 55th and four minutes later Araujo was sent off for stopping a breakaway.

Barcelona got the win despite still missing some of its top players, including Robert Lewandowski, the league's leading scorer. Ousmane Dembele and Pedri also didn't play because of injuries, while playmaker Gavi was out because of a yellow-card suspension.

"We are not being effective up front and end up suffering to close out matches," said Barcelona coach Xavi, who watched from the stands because of a suspension.

Madrid was without midfielder Luka Modric because of a yellow-card suspension.

Ancelotti's team is winless in three straight matches after defeating Liverpool 5-2 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

Benzema scored from a freekick in the 12th but the goal was ruled out after video review because the ball deflected slightly off the arm of Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger.

Betis saw its three-game winning streak end but it remained in fifth place, three points behind fourth-placed Real Sociedad in the final Champions League spot.

Valencia was trying to win two in a row after a run of six consecutive losses in all competitions. It arrived at Camp Nou sitting inside the relegation zone and missing several players because of injury, including veteran striker Edinson Cavani. Valencia is in 19th place, two points from safety.

It was Valencia's third game with coach Ruben Baraja in charge after he replaced Gennaro Gattuso. Singaporean club owner Peter Lim still faces protests from Valencia fans who accuse him of poor administration and not caring for the club's interests.

Valencia unsuccessfully demanded a penalty when Fran Perez was brought down by Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie inside the area in the 85th.

Valladolid victory

Valladolid defeated Espanyol 2-1 in a match between two clubs trying to stay far from the relegation zone.

Ivan Sanchez scored in the 25th minute and Alvaro Aguado in the 62nd for Valladolid, which moved to 14th place, two points clear from the drop zone.

Martin Braithwaite netted in the 87th for Espanyol, which was 12th but stayed with the same 27 points as Valladolid.

Valladolid had not won in three straight matches. Espanyol had won two in a row.

Agencies via Xinhua