MADRID, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona retained their seven-point lead over Atletico Madrid at the top of the Liga Santander when they got back to winning ways with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Eibar in the Ipurua Stadium on Saturday night.
It was far from a vintage performance from Barca, who continue to look tired after a hard start to 2018 and Eibar pinned them in their own half for long spells in the game.
However, as long as the Leo Messi-Luis Suarez tandem works, Barca are in with a chance and that is what happened in the 16th minute when a Messi diagonal pass found Suarez, who scored with ease.
Fabian Orellana hit the post for Eibar but made Barca's task easier in the 65th minute when he was sent off for punching the ball away when he had already seen a yellow card.
Jordi Alba confirmed Barca's win in the 88th minute after Messi's attempt to score from an Aleix Vidal cross was blocked, allowing him to slide the ball home.
Atletico Madrid remain second, seven points behind Barca thanks to a relatively straightforward 2-0 win at home to Athletic Club Bilbao.
The visitors went out with the idea of defending and did a good job until a bad error in the 67th minute allowed Kevin Gameiro to open the scoring after Saul had won the ball in midfield and Diego Costa sealed the win 10 minutes from time after a fine pass from the Frenchman.
Marco Asensio scored twice as Real Madrid won a thrilling game 5-3 away to Betis.
Asensio opened the scoring, but Aissa Mandi and an own goal gave the side from Sevilla a 2-1 win at the break.
Serio Ramos and Asensio's second of the game turned the score around in Madrid's favor before Cristiano Ronaldo made it 4-2 with 25 minutes remaining.
Sergio Leon added emotion to the final minutes, but Karim Benzema sealed Madrid's win two minutes into injury time.
Valencia remain third after two late goals gave them a 2-1 win away to bottom of the table Malaga, who had taken the lead through Brown Ideye in the 27th minute only for Francis Coquelin to head home the equalizer 10 minutes from time before Dani Parejo's 85th minute penalty completed the turnaround.
There was controversy as Sevilla won 2-1 over Las Palmas with goals from Wissam Ben Yedder and Pablo Sarabia and after Las Palmas got into the game with an 82nd minute penalty they were denied an equalizer in injury time when Alejandro Galvez had a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside.
Meanwhile Rodrigo Hernandez and Esteban Granero scored to see Espanyol and Villarreal draw 1-1.
Munir's 61st minute goal continues Alave's recovery at the expense of Deportivo la Coruna, who remain second from bottom, while Alaves move 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
Real Sociedad also put any lingering doubts in the past with a 3-0 win at home to Levante thanks to goals from Xabi Prieto, Juanmi and Sergio Canales.
