A superb late strike from Barcelona midfielder Xavi allowed the Spanish first division soccer league leaders to snatch a 2-1 win away to a determined Albacete on Saturday.

A superb late strike from Barcelona midfielder Xavi allowed the Spanish first division soccer league leaders to snatch a 2-1 win away to a determined Albacete on Saturday.

The Spanish international cracked a volley into the far corner from a metre outside the area five minutes from time after a poor clearance from the Albacete defence. The win put Barca 12 points clear at the top of the table, although their nearest rivals Real Madrid and Espanyol have yet to play this weekend.

Atletico Madrid missed their chance to consolidate a place in the upper reaches of the table when they went down 1-0 at AthleticBilbao in Saturday's late match.

Bilbao defender Asier del Horno grabbed the winner when he steered in at the far post on the stroke of halftime after midfielder Andoni Iraola had swept a fine pass over the Atletico defence. The win allowed Bilbao to move up into 12th position in the table, while Atletico remain in sixth.

Source: Xinhua