Real are third in the Liga standing on 54 points after 27 games. Barca, who have 66, host second-placed Atletico Madrid in a top-of-the-table clash Sunday, when Diego Simeone's side can reduce the gap behind the leader to two points with a victory. After Real's five-game winning streak in all competition was snapped by a surprise defeat at Espanyol Tuesday, the coach said it was vital his side returned to winning ways ahead of their trip to Paris for the second leg of their last-16 tie. Sevilla secured a second straight victory by seeing off Athletic Bilbao 2-0 at home to tighten their hold on fifth place, moving four points ahead of Villarreal, who were beaten 2-0 at home by Girona. Top flight debutant Girona moved up to seventh in the standings and in to the Europa League qualification spots as well as becoming the first team in their maiden season in Liga to reach 40 points after 27 games. Basement side Malaga suffered a sixth consecutive defeat by losing 2-0 at Leganes while Deportivo a Coruna scored their first goal in their fifth game under coach Clarence Seedorf but could only draw 1-1 at home to Eibar and remain 19th.1⃣ @FCBarcelona_es - 66 puntos 2⃣ @Atleti - 61 puntos
¿Qué nos deparará el #BarcaAtleti de mañana? ? #LaLigaSantander ? pic.twitter.com/8WQp1zfvYP— LaLiga (@LaLiga) March 3, 2018
RESULTSVillarreal 0 Girona 2 (Stuani 16, Lozano 80)Sevilla 2 (Muriel 27, Vazquez 32) Athletic 0Deportivo 1 (Dmitrovic 33-og) Eibar 1 (Inui 11)Leganes 2 (Goni 55, Amrabat 62) Malaga 0Real Madrid 3 (Bale 24, Cristiano Ronaldo 45+1, 78) Getafe 1 (Portillo 65-P) SUNDAY'S MATCHESLevante v Espanyol, Barcelona v Atletico, Sociedad v Alaves and Valencia v Betis¡La emoción continúa mañana en #LaLigaSantander! ? pic.twitter.com/RkPDM8ROiT
— LaLiga (@LaLiga) March 3, 2018