La Liga: Barca lose to Deportivo as Madrid assume top spot

Barcelona may have lost their hopes of lifting the Spanish League title this season as they lost 2-1 to Deportivo ​La Coruna ​on Sunday, while close rival Real Madrid beat opponents, ​Real Betis​, to assume top position.

​​With star player Neymar ruled out of the game due to injury, Manager Luis Enrique made five changes from the line-up that defeated PSG 6-1 last Tuesday.

Barca fell behind to a close-range Joselu finish in 40 minutes, as the home team held unto the advantage throughout the first half.

Luis Suarez equalised seconds after the restart but a header by Alex Bergantinos sealed the win for the struggling side.

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Real Madrid are two points clear at the top, with a game in hand, after a dramatic comeback against Real Betis.

Sergio Ramos headed a late winner as the Catalan giants recovered from a mistake by goalkeeper Keylor Navas to beat 10-man Real Betis 2-1.

Navas spilled Antonio Sanabria’s shot into his own net in 24 minutes, before Cristiano Ronaldo headed the equaliser from a Marcelo cross four minutes before half-time. Ramos later powered in a Toni Kroos corner just two minutes after Betis defender Matteo Piccinini was sent off for dragging back Lucas Vazquez few minutes to stoppage time.

In the other La Liga fixtures on Sunday, Celta Vigo lost to Villarreal 0-1, while Real Sociedad were defeated 2-0 at home by Atletico Bilbao.

Madrid are at the top with two points clear off second-placed Barcelona and five points above third-placed Sevilla.

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