ALMERIA 0-2 BARCELONA – BARCA WIN ON THE ROAD TO TIGHTEN GRIP ON SECOND PLACE IN LA LIGA

Barcelona saw the La Liga title slip into the hands of their bitter rivals Real Madrid earlier this month, but they are ending the season on a high note with a convincing victory on the road against Almeria on Thursday evening. Fermin Lopez was the star of the show for Xavi Hernandez's Barca, scoring in each half to secure the three points at relegated Almeria.

Barcelona tightened their grip on second place in La Liga with this routine 2-0 victory over the bottom side. Fermin Lopez scored both goals at the Power Horse Stadium, moving Xavi’s side four points clear of third-place Girona with two games remaining. The visitors broke through in the 14^th minute when an unmarked Fermin neatly nodded home Hector Fort’s deep cross at the far post. Almeria squandered two great opportunities to equalise in each half, with Leo Baptistao and Anthony Lozano both shooting wide with only Marc-Andre ter Stegen to beat, while Adri Embarba also hit a post for the hosts.

These missed chances proved costly as Barca doubled their advantage in the 67^th minute. Sergi provided the cross for Fermin to brilliantly sweep a first-time shot into the far corner. Substitute Joao Felix hit the side-netting late on, but Fermin’s brace was more than enough to seal the points for the visitors.

TALKING POINT – ROUTINE FOR BARCA, BUT ALMERIA RUE WASTEFULNESS

Despite their recent troubles on the road, it seemed highly unlikely Barca would suffer a third successive away defeat in La Liga for the first time since December 2002 under Louis van Gaal. The Blaugrana continued their dominance over Almeria, whom they have now beaten in 13 of the last 16 meetings between the sides.

Although Almeria will wonder what might have been as their winless streak on home soil continued, Baptistao and Lozano had glaring opportunities to equalise at 1-0, but both shot wide with only Ter Stegen to beat. These actions generally sum up their disappointing season.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – FERMIN LOPEZ

The young midfielder, who turned 21 last Saturday, enjoyed the ideal late present with his brace moving Barca four points clear of Girona in second place. For both his goals, Fermin was in the right place at the right time. First, he arrived late at the far post to head home Fort’s deep cross, before brilliantly guiding Sergi’s center into Maximiano’s left corner to seal the points. Those strikes came from a game-high four shots, while he also created the joint-most chances with three, tying with Kounde and Yamal.

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