Messi stars as Barca dents Atletico hopes
Credit to Author: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE| Date: Wed, 03 Apr 2019 21:55:02 +0000
MADRID: Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez led Barcelona to a stunning comeback against Villarreal on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) and may have ensured there will be no return for Atletico Madrid in La Liga’s title race.
Atletico play Barca at the Camp Nou on Saturday and were given fresh hope of a resurgence when struggling Villarreal, inspired by the brilliant Santi Cazorla, led the Catalans 4-2 going into the final minute.
But Messi, who had started on the bench, drove in a free kick in the 90th and in the 93rd, Suarez fired in a devastating half volley to earn Barca a 4-4 draw and an unlikely point.
Combined with Atletico’s earlier 2-0 win over Girona, the result means the gap at the top is reduced to eight points ahead of this weekend’s top of the table meeting but Ernesto Valverde’s side celebrated Suarez’s goal like it was worth a victory.
Cazorla, meanwhile, sank to his knees, a chance spurned for Villarreal to pull four points clear of the relegation zone, with Celta Vigo, now only two behind, still to play Huesca on Wednesday.
They had come from two down, as Samuel Chukwueze and Karl Toko Ekambi cancelled out early goals from Philippe Coutinho and Malcom. Vicente Iborra and Carlos Bacca looked to have sealed an incredible win, only for Messi and Suarez to intervene.
The pair has now scored 51 goals between them in the league this season, just one shy of the total managed by Real Madrid.
Rested along with Gerard Pique and Ivan Rakitic, it seemed Barcelona would be able to leave Messi on the bench as Coutinho tapped in a pass by Malcom, who then headed in Arturo Vidal’s cross for a 2-0 lead after 16 minutes.
But Villarreal sprung into life, revived by Chukwueze, who pulled one back seven minutes later. A sumptuous flick by Iborra launched the counter-attack and Cazorla sent the striker clear. Chukwueze’s shot struck the post but cannoned back to him and this time, he guided it into the far corner.
Any control Barcelona had increasingly gave way to chaos, particularly on the break, where Villarreal broke through almost at will. Toko Ekambi’s equalizer shortly after half time looked like a fluke but perhaps he meant it.
AFP
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