Messi Frustrated Seeing as Barca Suffer Blow Found in Title Race
28 June, 2020
FC Barcelona's title charge in LaLiga suffered a setback after dropping things at Celta Vigo, who netted a outstanding late equaliser on Saturday night.
Barca made four changes from the midweek win with Ivan Rakitic, Samuel Umtiti and Anssumane Fati returning while 20-year old midfielder Riqui Puig made his first group start in place of the suspended Sergio Busquets.
The visitors were threatening in the opening exchanges with clever set-pieces as Gerard Pique hit the crossbar in the sixth minute with a header from Lionel Messi's corner.
A set-piece routine finally led to a goal in the 20th minute for the Catalans after Messi chosen Luis Suarez with a clever free-kick on the border of the container and the Uruguayan finished with a free-header at the trunk post.
Blaugrana goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen practically gave away an objective two minutes later after his attempted move was intercepted at the trunk, with Aspas latching onto the loose ball however the Spanish striker shot right at the German.
The hosts were threatening to return back to the game nonetheless they almost conceded the next goal five minutes before the break as Messi won possession large up the pitch, but his curling strike overlooked just over the top corner.
Celta were spirited found in the first stages of the next stanza plus they eventually found the equaliser five minutes from the break as Fedor Smolov struck house from close collection after a square move from Okay Yokuslu.
Queque Setien's charges upped their intensity plus they eventually regained their lead on the 67th minute courtesy of a clinical strike from Suarez, who completed his brace with a low strike into the bottom corner just after turning brilliantly in the box from Messi's pass.
However, Celta ultimately equalised two mins before time because of a a clever free-kick from Aspas, who curled a minimal shot around the wall structure that beat Ter Stegen flat-footed at his near post.
Barcelona almost lost all of the three points found in stoppage time but Ter Stegen denied Nolito the champion at the back post from point-blank array, as the face finished all square.
Atletico Madrid 2-1 Alaves
Atletico Madrid have cemented third place for another weekend with a 2-1 victory over Deportivo Alaves.
After a goalless initially half, Saul opened the scoring for the house side in the 59th minute with his fourth group goal of the season.
Diego Costa then sealed the win with 17 minutes kept on the clock after converting a penalty, acquiring his tally to several goals as well.
Joselu did pull one back again for Alaves in second-half stoppage time, nonetheless it proved to end up being nothing more than a consolation.
Athletic Bilbao 3-1 Real Mallorca
Athletic Bilbao bounced rear from the defeat to FC Barcelona to punish True Mallorca 3-1 in Saturday afternoon.
Raul Garcia, Oihan Sancet and Asier Villalibre got the goals for Bilbao, while Ante Budimir netted the visitors' consolation.
Osasuna 2-1 Leganes
Leganes' expectations of beating the drop took a good knock carrying out a 2-1 loss in Osasuna.
Enric Gallego bagged a brace to condemn the visitors to victory after Javier Aviles had got his side back the contest.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za