Barcelona moved a step closer to a second consecutive La Liga title after securing a rare win at Getafe on Saturday, while Atletico Madrid got a much-needed boost before facing Arsenal in the Champions League semifinals.
Fermín dedicates goal to injured Yamal
Fermín López dedicated his 45th-minute opener to the injured Lamine Yamal, Barcelona's leading scorer and assist maker who will miss the rest of the season with a muscle injury but hopes to be fit for the World Cup with Spain.
After scoring, Fermín crossed his arms and held up his fingers to make the "304" sign that Yamal uses to celebrate his goals in reference to the final three numbers of the post code for his hometown just north of Barcelona.
Marcus Rashford came on as a substitute and sealed the 2-0 victory in the 74th minute, giving Barcelona its first win at Getafe in six seasons.
Barcelona increased the gap over second-placed Real Madrid to a commanding 11 points with just five rounds to go, including a Clásico between them at Camp Nou on May 10.
"We'll celebrate at the end of the season if we can. Now it's time to focus on the next game," Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said, looking ahead to next weekend's game at Osasuna. "We wanted a good performance and play in our way against Getafe. We did really well at a tricky stadium."
Barcelona breaks Getafe hoodoo
Getafe's physical and no-frills defense stymied Barcelona for half a decade in their meetings at Coliseum Stadium. Barcelona had scored only once in its previous five trips to southern Madrid, a run of four straight draws and a loss in 2020.
The game's momentum shifted when Pau Cubarsí won a tackle in midfield and Pedri González fed a superb pass forward to beat the hosts' offside trap. Fermín finished brilliantly past David Soria in the 45th minute.
Then, with Getafe pushing forward hoping for a late equalizer, Rashford raced onto a long ball by Robert Lewandowski and dribbled more than half the pitch before sizing up Soria and firing home.
Barcelona announced on Thursday that Yamal would miss the rest of the season after he picked up a muscle injury in his left leg the day before from converting a penalty in a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo.
"I want to send him a big hug from here," Fermín said about Yamal after the game. "He is very important for us. It is too bad he can't play but now he can recover well and play in the World Cup."
Little-used forward Roony Bardghji started in Yamal's spot on the right side of Barcelona's attack. The 20-year-old Swede fired wide on Barcelona's only scoring opportunity before Fermín broke through.
Getafe, which has overachieved this campaign under coach José Bordalás, remained in sixth place and in the fight for a Europa League berth.
Madrid's title hopes take another hit
Real Madrid's already scant hopes of catching Barcelona took another blow on Friday when Real Betis scored in stoppage time to draw 1-1. Madrid is eyeing back-to-back seasons without a major title since the arrival of Kylian Mbappé.
Atletico gets win before Arsenal
Surprisingly for a team that reached the Copa del Rey final, is in the top four of La Liga and the final four of Europe's top competition, Atletico was on a horrible run of results in recent weeks.
Diego Simeone's side had lost seven of its previous eight games across all competitions, including a defeat on penalties to Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final last weekend.
But goals by Antoine Griezmann in the 49th minute and a brace by Alexander Sorloth at Metropolitano Stadium ensured a 3-2 comeback win against Athletic Bilbao.
Athletic got an opener from Aitor Paredes, while Gorka Guruzaga scored in stoppage time.
Atletico, which hosts Arsenal on Wednesday, remained in fourth place with a 10-point gap over Betis in fifth.