Barca title show on rocks as Atletico upstage Messi’s 700th aim

BARCELONA (Reuters) – Barcelona gave up extra ground to Valid Madrid in La Liga’s title flee on Tuesday after being held to a 2-2 plan at home to Third-placed Atletico Madrid as a behind penalty from Saul Niguez cancelled out Lionel Messi’s 700th career aim.

The plan meant the Catalans stayed 2nd in the standings on 70 points and leaders Valid Madrid, who like 71, will traipse four points clear at the tip with 5 games left if they beat Getafe at home on Thursday.

Barca went ahead at an empty Camp Nou in the 11th minute when Atletico striker Diego Costa knocked Messi’s beginning from a nook into his like rep.

Saul levelled rapidly after from the set up after the referee ordered a re-purchase when Costa’s initial penalty was as soon as saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen who had strayed from his line.

Barcelona then earned a penalty rapidly after the interval which Argentine Messi coolly converted for a noteworthy 700th strike for membership and country, exact for Saul to strike again from the set up in the 62nd to operate a portion of the points.

“It’s a valid shame and the league title is taking a gape noteworthy harder for us with every recreation,” said Barca coach Quique Setien, whose facet like drawn three of their six games since the promoting and marketing campaign resumed after the coronavirus stoppage.

“Shedding these points basically pushes us further some distance flung from the title nonetheless we must abet on working laborious.”

The Catalans desperately wished to obtain after twice throwing away the consequence in plan 2-2 with Celta Vigo on Saturday nonetheless history repeated itself as Quique Setien’s facet failed to sparkle against a obvious Atletico who’re unbeaten since the season resumed.

“It’s very laborious to strive and strive against for the title whereas you happen to tumble points two matches in a row nonetheless we’ll abet going until the stop,” said Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets.

As successfully as defending with their regular steel, Diego Simeone’s facet brought about Barca a vogue of complications down the wings attributable to the trail of Yannick Carrasco and their man-of-the-moment Marcos Llorente, who’s enjoying a brand contemporary lease of lifestyles as a forward.

Belgian winger Carrasco won both penalties for Atletico, out-foxing Arturo Vidal in the first half after which proving too rapid for Nelson Semedo.

Saul had despatched Ter Stegen the pass skill to attain his first equaliser nonetheless the German guessed the exact skill in their 2nd duel from the set up. The ball, on the choice hand, squirmed by intention of his palms and crept in off put up.

Barca coach Setien left former Atletico forward Antoine Griezmann out of his starting team for the 2nd recreation in a row and was to the 120-million-euro man in stoppage time, nonetheless the Frenchman had barely any time to offer the specified response.