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Barcelona’s 3rd draw in 4 matches hands advantage to Real Madrid
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Barcelona(Agencies): Lionel Messi scored his 700th career goal for club
and country before Atletico Madrid came back to draw 2-2 in the La Liga and
deal Barcelona’s title hopes a major blow.
Barcelona’s third draw
in four rounds left them in second place, one point behind leaders Real Madrid.
Madrid host Getafe on Thursday with a chance to open up a four-point lead with
five more matches remaining.
Barcelona were two
points ahead of Madrid when the league was halted in March because of the
coronavirus outbreak. While Madrid have won five out of five since the
resumption after a three-month stoppage, Barcelona have won only three of six.
The pressure is increasing on coach Quique Setien, who took over the team
mid-season with the task of rekindling their attacking spirit.
“It is too bad because we keep dropping points
and getting further and further away from the title,” Setien said. “But we have
to keep fighting.”
Barcelona struck first
in the 11th minute on Tuesday when Atletico striker Diego Costa inadvertently
redirected a corner by Messi into his own net. Costa’s night got worse shortly
after when his penalty was blocked by Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Atletico, however,
got to retake the spot kick when a video review determined that the Barcelona
goalkeeper had moved off his line too early. Saul Niguez stepped up instead of
Costa on the second attempt and converted to level the scores.
Messi restored the
hosts’ lead in the 56th minute by coolly scoring a penalty in the “Panenka”
style, chipping it softly past goalie Jan Oblak. The goal was Messi’s 630th
club goal to go with 70 for Argentina. It was also his league-leading 22nd goal
of the season.
Atletico responded
through the speed of forward Yannick Carrasco, who was tripped by Nelson Semedo
and Niguez stepped back to the spot for yet another penalty. Ter Stegen got a
hand on the ball but not enough to keep it out.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico
remained undefeated in six matches since the competition resumed, staying in
third place, 12 points behind Madrid. — PTI
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