Madrid, Barca rest starters but still win in La Liga
Joao Felix (centre) launches himself to score for Barcelona in their 1-0 win at Cadiz. (EPA PHOTO)
Real Madrid and Barcelona have ground out away wins in the Spanish league despite resting key players ahead of their respective Champions League clashes against Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
League leaders Madrid won 1-0 at Mallorca and remain eight points clear of nearest challengers Barcelona, who triumphed 1-0 at Cadiz.
After the second legs of their quarter-finals in Europe's elite club competition, the Spanish powerhouses will meet next weekend in La Liga.
Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni scored the game's only goal at Mallorca three minutes after halftime.
Vinicius Junior and Eduardo Camavinga came on for the final 30 minutes, Dani Carvajal was introduced near the end, while Rodrygo and Toni Kroos never left the bench.
Top scorer Jude Bellingham started and was replaced by Camavinga.
Carlo Ancelotti equaled Zinedine Zidane with 183 league games coached for Madrid, second only to Miguel Munoz's some way distant 424.
At relegation-threatened Cadiz, Joao Felix scored with an acrobatic close-range bicycle kick for Barcelona while Xavi Hernandez rested several starters ahead of Tuesday's home match against PSG.
"We all work to be starters," Felix said.
"I am just like any other player who wants to play. I know I have what it takes to help the team."
Raphinha, who scored twice in Barcelona's 3-2 win in Paris, played only the final 10 minutes, while Lamine Yamal, Jules Kounde and potential starter Pedri Gonzalez went on for the final half hour.
Ilkay Gundogan, Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araujo, and Joao Cancelo stayed on the bench, while Robert Lewandowski was unavailable through suspension.
Antoine Griezmann scored twice - his first from the penalty spot - as Atletico Madrid beat Girona 3-1 to boost their chances of finishing in the top four.
Artem Dovbyk had opened the scoring early for Girona, his 17th league goal of the season moving him ahead of Bellingham as La Liga's leading scorer.
Girona remain in third place, four points clear of Atletico in fourth - the final Champions League qualification berth.
"We want to be in the Champions League next season," Griezmann said.
"We didn't start well but when we took it to them we could turn it around."
Atletico visit Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday holding a 2-1 first-leg lead in their Champions League quarter-final.
Rayo Vallecano drew 0-0 with Getafe.
Australian Associated Press
