Barca Denied Victory In Thrilling Draw
20 December, 2020
LaLiga
Result: FC Barcelona 2-2 Valencia
Date: 19 December 2020
Venue: Camp Nou
FC Barcelona's shaky form in LaLiga continued after playing to a 2-2 draw with Valencia at the Camp Nou on Saturday evening.
Barcelona made only one change to their side from their make an impression on Real Sociedad through the week. Frenkie de Jong dropped out of your starting line-up to be replaced by Coutinho.
The visitors took a deserved lead on the half-hour mark as Mouctar Diakhaby planted his free header past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. Kevin Soler put his delivery on the amount of money towards the near post from the proper corner flag. Diakhaby lost Antoine Griezmann and directed his effort low in to the bottom-right corner.
Barca equalised in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time. The Argentine saw his penalty saved by Domenech, but Pedri hooked the ball back towards the goalmouth. It looped over the Valencia keeper towards Messi, who nodded the ball over the line from close range.
Messi's goal is his 643rd strike for Barcelona, which draws him level with Pele for the most goals scored by one player at a major club.
Soon after half-time, Nelson Araujo headed Barcelona in the front for the first time of the afternoon. Valencia didn't clear their lines from a cross from Griezmann and the ball sat up for Araujo in the box. He left his feet to strike a volley towards goal and it sped past Domenech into the bottom-right corner.
Valencia equalised in the 69th minute as Maxi Gomez displayed predatory instincts to get before Mingueza to stab an attempt home. Gaya did well to gamble to reach Denys Cheryshev's ball down the left flank and he fired a low cross in to the middle. Maxi Gomez responded subsequently and directed his delivery past Ter Stegen in to the bottom-right corner.
In the 78th minute Coutinho almost restored Barca's lead as he surged down the left flank and skipped at night challenge of Wass. The Brazilian fired low and hard towards the bottom-right corner, but his effort travelled agonisingly wide of the post.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za