(AFP) - Barcelona regained the lead by narrowly defeating Celta Vigo 1-0 on Sunday at the "Spotify Camp Nou" in Barcelona in the eighth phase of the Spanish Football League championship.

The Catalan club owes its seventh successive victory to its international midfielder Pedri, who scored the only goal in the 17th minute, while the present absentee was his Polish scorer Robert Lewandowski, who did not threaten the guests' goal throughout the match.

Barcelona was the best party in the first half, but without much danger to the goal of its guests, who rose up in the second half and were close to scoring on more than one occasion had it not been for the brilliance of German international goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, who saved more than one opportunity and secured three points. Valuable to his team.

Barcelona regained the top spot in La Liga with 22 points and a goal difference in front of arch-rivals Real Madrid, the defending champions, before the hot El Clasico between them next Sunday at the "Santiago Bernabeu" stadium in Madrid at the summit of the ninth stage.

Barcelona regained the winning streak before hosting Inter, Italy, on Wednesday, at a crucial summit of its path in the Champions League competition, where it will be required to win to maintain its hopes of competing for the second card in Group C, and avenge its loss to the Italian team, 0-1, on Tuesday, in the third round.

Barcelona defender Marcos Alonso said, "We suffered at the end of the match, but we achieved the most important thing by getting the three points. We have to improve so as not to give the opponent chances to score."

He added, "Now we have to rest and prepare to face Inter, on which we bet everything in order to continue the campaign in the Champions League."

On the other hand, Celta Vigo captain Yago Aspas said, "We deserved more than a draw. We made a great second half and got six chances, and when you don't take advantage of them at Camp Nou, where you face a big team, you pay a heavy price."

The Catalan club imposed its advantage from the start and succeeded in translating it into a goal in the 17th minute, when Pedri took advantage of a ball that defender Unai Nunes frivolously removed after a cross pass by Gavi from the left, and he followed it into the empty goal.

Jordi Alba missed the opportunity to reinforce after receiving a wonderful pass from captain Sergio Busquets inside the area, and he hit it next to the right post (23).

Ter Stegen saved the Catalan club's goal from a goal when he cut Yago Aspas' pass to Argentine Franco Cervi inside the area at an appropriate time (31).

Celta Vigo imposed his preference at the beginning of the second half, and Aspas continued his brilliance in assists and prepared a ball on a platter for Oscar Rodrigues inside the area, but he recklessly hit it away from the three sticks (48).

Defender Marcos Alonso saved Barcelona from the equalizer by blocking Rodriguez's shot from close range (56).

French international Osman Dembele, substitute for Brazilian international Rafinha, tried his luck with a powerful shot from inside the area in the hands of Argentine goalkeeper Agustin Marchisen (83).

Ter Stegen continued his brilliance by blocking with his left a creeping shot by Aspas from close range and Gerard Pique turned it into a corner (84), and a ball was prepared in front of Hugo Mayo in front of the goal and he hit it near the left post (84).

The Portuguese substitute, Gonzalo Paciencia, was denied an equalizer by returning his shot from close range (90 + 4), then Ter Stegen blocked a powerful ball by Carles Pires (90 + 7).

Real Betis continued bleeding points and failed to regain third place by falling into a goalless draw against its host Valladolid.
The men of the Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini missed the opportunity to take advantage of the fall of Athletic Bilbao in a draw trap in front of its host Sevilla 1-1 on Saturday.

Real Betis also neglected the opportunity to regain fourth place from Atletico Madrid, which won 2-1 against Girona on Saturday as well, and fell to fifth place, on goal difference from the second pole of the capital.

It is the first draw for Real Betis this season, and it came after losing 0-1 to Celta Vigo in the seventh stage. It was his second this season after the first against Real Madrid 1-2 in the fourth stage, when the latter put an end to his three consecutive victories and broke up with him the lead partnership.

On the other hand, Valladolid tied for the second time this season against two wins and four defeats, raising its tally to eight points in thirteenth place.

Real Sociedad continued its uprising by defeating its guest Villarreal 1-0, scored by Price Mendes in the 33rd minute.

It is the third successive victory for Real Sociedad and the fifth this season, raising its tally to 16 points and climbing to sixth place, on goal difference, behind fourth Atletico Madrid and fifth Real Betis.

Villarreal suffered his second loss in his last four matches, in which he did not taste victory, so his score froze at 12 points and fell to ninth place.
Cadiz tied with Espanyol, with two goals for Victor Schust (41) and Lucas Perez (78), compared to two goals for Jesolo (51 and 67).
Espanyol raised its tally to six points in the seventeenth place, compared to five points for Cadiz, the penultimate nineteenth.
The stage ends on Monday with Elche's meeting with Real Mallorca.