MADRID, May 11: Barcelona moved a step closer to securing second place in the Spanish league by defeating 10-man Celta Vigo 3-1 despite defender Ronald Araújo leaving the field in an ambulance with a head injury after colliding with a teammate.
Barcelona said Araújo “has suffered a concussion and was taken to the hospital to undergo further testing” after he and Gavi Páez hit their heads while going for a ball near midfield in the 61st minute at the Camp Nou Stadium. However, he was discharged after a night in the hospital after tests showed ‘satisfactory results.’
“It’s scary when something like this happens,” said forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored twice for Barcelona. The game was interrupted for nearly eight minutes as Araújo received medical assistance and the ambulance was brought onto the field to transport him to the hospital.
Memphis Depay put Barcelona ahead in the 30th and Aubameyang added to the lead in the 41st and 48th minutes. Aspas pulled the visitors closer in the 50th. The goal came after Araújo misplayed a pass by goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, allowing the ball to be stolen by Celta.
Celta defender Jeison Murillo was sent off in the 58th for a foul to stop a Barcelona breakaway.
The victory left Barcelona seven points in front of Sevilla ahead of the rival’s home match against relegation-threatened Mallorca on Wednesday.
Finishing second is important because it guarantees a place in the lucrative Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. Real Madrid, which hosts Levante on Thursday, clinched the title two rounds ago.
Betis stay alive
Real Betis defeated Valencia 3-0 to end a four-match winless streak and keep alive its hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season. It was a rematch of the Copa del Rey final won by Betis in a penalty shootout last month.
Willian José, Sergio Canales and Borja Iglesias scored a goal each in the second half to move fifth-place Betis within three points of Atlético and four of city rival Sevilla.
Betis last played in the Champions League in 2005-06, after it finished fourth in the Spanish league.
Granada stay alive
Granada defeated mid-table Athletic Bilbao 1-0 to move five points from the relegation zone ahead of the other mid-week games.
Álex Collado scored a 35th-minute winner for 16th-place Granada, which was coming off a 6-2 victory at 18th-place Mallorca. (AP)
