Barca title bid on rocks as Atletico upstage Messi's 700th goal
Barcelona quit more ground to Real Madrid found in La Liga's title competition on Tuesday after getting held to a 2-2 draw in the home to third-placed Atletico Madrid seeing as a late penalty from Saul Niguez cancelled out Lionel Messi's 700th job goal.
The draw meant the Catalans stayed second in the standings upon 70 issues and leaders Actual Madrid, who have 71, will choose four points clear at the very top with five game left if indeed they beat Getafe at home on Thursday.
Barca gone ahead at a clear Camp Nou in the 11th minute when Atletico striker Diego Costa knocked Messi's delivery from a good part into his own net.
Saul levelled immediately after from the spot following the referee ordered a re-take when Costa's first penalty was first saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen who all had strayed from his brand.
Barcelona then earned a penalty immediately after the interval which Argentine Messi coolly converted for a remarkable 700th hit for club and region, limited to Saul to hit again from the location found in the 62nd to earn a talk about of the points.
"It's a real shame and the group title is looking many harder for us with each video game," said Barca mentor Quique Setien, whose area contain drawn three of their 6 games because the campaign resumed after the coronavirus stoppage.
"Dropping these points the truth is pushes us further from the title but we have to keep on spending so much time."
The Catalans desperately had a need to win after twice throwing out the lead to attract 2-2 with Celta Vigo on Saturday but history repeated itself as Quique Setien's side failed to sparkle against a determined Atletico who are unbeaten since the season resumed.
"It's very hard to fight for the title when you drop points two suits in a row but we'll continue before end," said Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets.
As well as defending with their usual steel, Diego Simeone's side caused Barca a lot of problems straight down the wings as a result of pace of Yannick Carrasco and their man-of-the-moment Marcos Llorente, who is enjoying a fresh lease of life just as a forward.
Belgian winger Carrasco won both penalties for Atletico, out-foxing Arturo Vidal on the first 1 / 2 and then proving too quick for Nelson Semedo.
Saul had sent Ter Stegen the wrong manner to score his initial equaliser however the German guessed the proper way in their second duel from the spot. The ball, even so, squirmed through his hands and crept in off content.
Barca coach Setien kept former Atletico forwards Antoine Griezmann out of his starting team for the second video game in a row and considered the 120-million-euro man in stoppage time, however the Frenchman had barely any moment to provide the required reaction.
