Cadiz 0-1 Barcelona: Joao Felix strike sees Xavi's side edge past Cadiz to maintain faint La Liga title hopes

Barcelona were able to scrape past Cadiz with a 1-0 win in La Liga on Saturday as they maintained their faint title hopes.

Xavi Hernandez watched the game from the stands as he fielded a largely second-string side with one eye on the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain.

Joao Felix opened the scoring on 36 minutes with a smart overhead kick from a corner, and Fermin Lopez had a shot cleared off the line shortly after.

In the second half, Barcelona pressed hard for a second but Cadiz had a goal disallowed from Juanmi and had a penalty appeal against Pau Cubarsi ignored.

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen was on hand to produce a vital save for Diadie Samassekou’s shot from distance as the Blaugrana held on for all three points and kept the gap to Real Madrid at eight points.

Barcelona’s next match is against PSG on Tuesday, while Cadiz face Girona next Saturday.

Robert Lewandowski’s good form has come at a vital time for Barcelona as they attempt an unlikely title chase against Real Madrid.

More importantly now, it gives them a great chance of pushing past PSG in the Champions League to reach the semi-finals and perhaps persuade Xavi to stay on.

Lewandowski’s improvement is important because Vitor Roque once more underwhelmed. While he is likely to need time to settle in, Barcelona need every help they can get in the run-in.

The Portuguese forward is still not consistently dangerous but his flashes of quality are often enough to win games. He was the best player on the pitch on Saturday night and was taken off early ahead of a potential start against PSG.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen 7, Alonso 7, Roberto 6, Fort 7, Cubarsi 6, Christensen 6, Fermin 6, Romeu 6, Ferran 6, Joao Felix 7, Roque 5. Subs: Pedri 7, Raphinha 6, Kounde 6, Lamine Yamal 6, Casado 6.

Cadiz: Ledesma 6, Alcaraz 6, Javi Hernandez 6, Chust 6, Ousou 6, Iza 6, Navarro 6, Fernandez 6, Ramos 6, Juanmi 5, Sobrino 6. Subs: Gomez 6, Roger 6, Samassekou 6, Machis 6, Pires 6.

24’ - ALONSO CORNER - Way overhit, but the ball drops to Fermin and he volleys a low effort from outside the box that goes a couple of yards wide.

33’ - FORT SHOT - Ledesma backpedals to slap away a Fort cross that was close to creeping under the bar. Roberto's shot from a corner is dragged wide.

36’ - GOAL! CADIZ 0-1 BARCELONA - JOAO FELIX SCORES - The deadlock is broken. From a corner on the right, the ball is flicked on at the near post and Felix pulls off an overhead kick - with his shin, but who cares - and into the bottom corner.

42’ - FERMIN MISS - Chust at the rescue. Roberto glances a header to direct the ball to Fermin at the back post, and he beats the keeper but fizzes it at Chust.

54’ - JUANMI SCORES! NO! OFFSIDE - He runs onto a cross and sweeps the ball into the near post, and it's a clear offside.

79’ - TER STEGEN SAVE - Samassekou catches a long-range, curling shot well and Ter Stegen does brilliantly to palm it away.

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