Barcelona, May 8 (AP) Jordi Alba scored a last-gasp winner to snatch Barcelona a 2-1 win at Real Betis, dealing a blow to the host's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

Barcelona on Saturday strengthened its hold on second place in the Spanish league behind newly crowned champion Real Madrid, which clinched the title last weekend.

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Betis remained in fifth place.

Atlético Madrid, in fourth, was three points ahead before it hosts Real Madrid in a derby on Sunday.

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Ansu Fati, who had just recently returned from another long injury layoff, broke the deadlock in the 77th from a pass by Alba just one minute after he went on.

Betis looked set to salvage a crucial point in its top-four quest for a Champions League berth when Marc Bartra equalized in the 80th.

But Alba smashed home a left-footed volley from a cross by Dani Alves deep in stoppage time. The referee blew the whistle just seconds after play restarted. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)