A first-half strike from Pedri gave Barcelona a 1-0 win over Villarreal at the Estadio de la Ceramica on Sunday that extended their lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga to 11 points and kept them on course for a first league title since 2019.

Robert Lewandowski fired an early chance straight at goalkeeper Pepe Reina but he had better luck with his passing, teeing up Pedri in a brilliant exchange that set up the 20-year-old to clip the ball into the net in the 18th minute.

The win leaves Barca on top of the standings with 56 points after 21 games.

Lens slip to 4th

RC Lens’s winless run in Ligue 1 continued with a 2-1 defeat at Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday as they slipped to fourth in the standings. Alexandre Lacazette and Rayan Cherki scored for Lyon on either side of Diver Machado’s equaliser.

Napoli cruise

Serie A leaders Napoli eased to a 3-0 home win over bottom side Cremonese on Sunday, claiming their sixth consecutive league win.

Napoli took the lead in the 21st minute through winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who kept the ball from going off the pitch and went on to finish his solo effort with a low shot into the bottom right corner. Striker Victor Osimhen doubled their advantage shortly after the hour mark from close range, scoring in his sixth league game in a row to make it eight goals in 2023.

Substitute midfielder Eljif Elmas sealed the win 11 minutes from time, after he was set up by defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo.

Skhiri’s double

Cologne stunned in-form Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 with two goals from Tunisia international Ellyes Skhiri on Sunday to snap their opponents’ unbeaten run in the league since October.