Raphinha secures vital win for Barcelona to narrow gap on leaders Real Madrid

Barcelona saw two goals chalked off for offside and Robert Lewandowski hit the bar but Las Palmas had goalkeeper Alvaro Valles red-carded for a crude challenge on Raphinha outside his box after 25 minutes.

Xavi's side were unable to initially capitalise on the extra man but Joao Felix came off the bench and provided a delicately-weighted ball over the top for Raphinha to head into the net in the 59th minute.

"These are three important points. We will keep fighting until the end and won't give up until the league is over," Raphinha said about Barca's attempts to hunt down Real Madrid.

Barcelona manager Xabi Hernandez had to watch the game from the stands while he served a two-game suspension for protesting.

"We have done our homework today and got the three points we needed to stay in the fight," he said after the match.

In other La Liga results on Saturday, Sevilla claimed a 1-0 win at Getafe after Sergio Ramos scored the fifth-minute winner, though the match was marred by racist insults towards Sevilla defender Marcos Acuña and coach Quique Sanchez Flores, which brought proceedings to a brief halt in the second half.

"We are workers who come here to work in peace and be respected," Sanchez Flores said. "It is an aberration that in these times when we are advancing in so many ways that (these individuals) grab us and pull us backwards."

Valencia and Mallorca played to a goalless draw, the last game before Mallorca faces Athletic in the Copa del Rey final, while the day's other game saw Osasuna claim a 3-0 win away at struggling Almeria.

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