MADRID, April 13 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona moved closer to this season's La Liga title by beating Espanyol, Real Madrid dropped two points at home to Girona, and Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone showed where his priorities lie. Here are four things we learned from the latest round of matches in Spain.

1. Yamal is irreplaceable

With the UEFA Champions League return game away to Atletico Madrid approaching, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was asked ahead of Saturday's 4-1 win at home to Espanyol if he would rest Lamine Yamal and replied that he wasn't sure.

In the end, Yamal played all 90 minutes, setting up Barcelona's first two goals and then scoring the third in the 87th minute after Pol Lozano's goal for Espanyol had threatened a late upset.

Flick would certainly have loved to rest Yamal, but the way the game was poised, he is just too important to replace.

2. All or nothing for Real Madrid

Friday's 1-1 draw at home to Girona virtually ends Real Madrid's title hopes, with the team nine points behind FC Barcelona with seven matches left to play, and the crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu made their feelings clear with jeers greeting the final whistle.

Coach Alvaro Arbeloa brought Eder Militao and Jude Bellingham into his side with the aim of achieving match fitness ahead of Wednesday's Champions League visit to Bayern Munich.

With the league title disappearing in the distance following elimination in the Copa del Rey, the Champions League is all that can save Real Madrid's season.

3. Simeone shows his priorities

Atletico Madrid has a vital week with a Champions League quarterfinal return leg against FC Barcelona, followed by next weekend's Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad. Coach Simeone therefore changed every outfield player for Saturday's visit to Sevilla.

The result was perhaps no surprise as Sevilla, which kicked off the game in the bottom three, battled to a 2-1 win, although Simeone would be pleased with the performance of B-team players Javier Bonar and Dani Martinez.

4. Relegation struggle gets squeezed again

Elche, Sevilla and Mallorca all won in their battle to avoid relegation. While Elche's home win to Valencia didn't lift the club of the bottom three, it has had the effect of widening the battle to avoid the drop.

There are only six points separating 18th-placed Elche from 10th-placed Espanyol, meaning that there are plenty of head-to-head duels in the coming weeks. ■