Barcelona snatch late win, Ramos tells fan to 'shut up'

Ilkay Gundogan sent his penalty into the middle of the net three minutes into added time to keep Barcelona within seven points of leaders Madrid and Girona at the halfway point of the season.

Madrid, who are ahead of Girona on a tiebreaker, defeated Mallorca 1-0 on Wednesday, while Girona beat fifth-place Atletico Madrid 4-3.

It was another poor performance by Barcelona, who ended last year with three setbacks before edging last-place Almeria in a match in which they were booed by their own fans.

Mid-table Las Palmas were in control in the first half and squandered several chances to take the lead. Barcelona went into the locker room at half-time with no shots on target.

"What was important was to get the three points," Barcelona forward Ferran Torres said. "We couldn't get the timing right with the last pass in the first half."

The hosts loudly complained of the penalty that prompted the decisive goal and a red card to Daley Sinkgraven for an alleged push on Gundogan inside the area.

Munir El Haddadi, a former Barcelona player, had put Las Palmas ahead from close range in the 11th, and Torres equalised in the 55th from inside the area.

Las Palmas, winless in three matches, have not beaten Barcelona in 15 league matches, with five draws and 10 losses.

Earlier, Sevilla's struggles continued into the new year with a 2-0 home loss to Athletic Bilbao.

And it followed with Sergio Ramos getting into a verbal spat with a fan in his post-match interview.

The veteran defender was talking to a television reporter by the sideline when he angrily responded to a fan who was apparently yelling at him from the stands.

"Have some respect, we are talking. Respect the fans and the shield. Respect the fans and shut up now," Ramos yelled.

"We have to endure everything. It's the situation now," he told the reporter. "We understand the frustration of the fans, it's normal. It's been a long time without winning, without giving them some happiness."

It was the fifth defeat in Sevilla's last six matches in all competitions, leaving the club from southern Madrid in 16th place, one point from the relegation zone.

Sevilla have only one win from their last 13 league matches - at second-to-last-place Granada in December.

Mikel Vesga and Aitor Paredes scored a goal in each half for Athletic, who jumped to third place with their third straight league victory.

At the halfway point, Real Madrid and Girona are tied on 48 points each, with Madrid ahead on a tiebreaker. Madrid defeated Mallorca 1-0 on Wednesday, while Girona beat fourth-place Atletico Madrid 4-3.

Also on Thursday, Osasuna won 1-0 at home against last-placed Almeria, the only team yet to win in the league this season.

Ante Budimir scored a 27th-minute winner for Osasuna, who have won two of their last three matches after a six-match winless run.

It was the 14th league loss for Almeria, whose only victory this season has come against lower-division club Talavera in the Copa del Rey.

Australian Associated Press