Barcelona kept top spot in the Spanish Liga with an authoritative 2-0 win Saturday at Real Betis with second-half goals from Ivan Rakitic and league top scorer Luis Suarez. Barca had to win to stay top, after Atletico Madrid had beaten Rayo Vallecano 1-0 on a goal from Antoine Griezmann and Real Madrid had prevailed 1-0 at Real Sociedad thanks to a late strike from Gareth Bale. With just two games left, Barca and Atletico have 85 points apiece and Real 84. Barca are above Atletico on the head-to-head results system used in Spain when teams are tied on points, which means they will retain the title if they beat Espanyol and Granada in their last two games. Rakitic broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half, and Suarez sealed the win nine minutes from time with his 36th league goal, latching onto a perfect pass from Lionel Messi. Earlier, solid Atletico Madrid edged Rayo Vallecano with their third straight 1-0 win. Atletico coach Diego Simeone fielded seven reserves with Tuesday's Champions League visit to Bayern Munich in mind, but his new-look team failed to break down a resolute Rayo defense. Nine minutes into the second half, Simeone brought on Antoine Griezmann - and was immediately rewarded with the winning goal. Within a minute of coming off the bench, Griezmann took a poor clearance from Rayo defender Jose Crespo on his chest and scored with a handsome volley from his sweet left foot. Rayo enjoyed 62-per-cent possession, and Atletico needed a couple of sharp saves from keeper Jan Oblak late on to hold out for the win. Bale headed in a near-post centre from Lucas Vazquez for the winner with 10 minutes left. It was the least that Zinedine Zidane's weary, injury-hit team deserved, after dominating from start to finish in San Sebastian but until the winner being frustrated by Sociedad goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.
