BARCELONA (AFP) - Lionel Messi scored for a ninth consecutive match, but his latest double on Saturday (Feb 2) was only enough to earn Barcelona a 2-2 draw against Valencia.
Kevin Gameiro and Dani Parejo's penalty gave Valencia a surprise two-goal lead but Messi pulled one back with his own spot-kick before curling in a brilliant equaliser with 26 minutes left.
After their stunning comeback against Sevilla in midweek, Barca looked destined to again finish the job, but Valencia held on for a point after a breathless contest at the Camp Nou.
Messi's 20th and 21st league goals of the season left Barca six points clear of Atletico Madrid, who could cut the gap to three by beating Real Betis on Sunday, with Real Madrid, 11 points back, at home to Alaves.
After eight consecutive Barcelona wins in La Liga, this result perhaps offered the chasing pack a little encouragement at the start of a testing month for the Catalans.
Real could inflict further disruption themselves. They play Barca in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals on Wednesday, in what will be the first of three Clasicos in a month. The latter two will be back-to-back, within four days.
But with Messi in this sort of form, any confidence from Real comes with an asterisk.
His 12 goals in his last nine games is the same number the whole Valencia squad managed in their first 15 league matches. Valencia were 15th in December, with only three wins, and their coach Marcelino was under pressure, just six months after propelling them back into the Champions League.
The club kept faith and results have improved. They have now lost only one of their last seven matches and are within sight of the top four.
Valencia deserved their first-half lead and could have scored sooner, Parejo drawing a smart save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen before Denis Cheryshev lashed the rebound off the far post.
The visitors rode their luck as two decisions went their way in a matter of minutes. First, Barca could have had a penalty when Gabriel Paulista blocked Nelson Semedo's shot with his hand.
Then the home team should have had a free-kick as Messi was bundled over by Parejo. The latter proved key, with Valencia sprawling forward on the counter-attack.
Rodrigo carried the ball 40 yards before slipping a cute reverse pass behind Vermaelen. Gameiro banged in the finish.
Valencia's penalty was clear after Sergi shoved Daniel Wass in the back, with Parejo whipping the ball into the corner to make it two.
Barca looked shell-shocked but the third goal in 15 minutes was theirs. Semedo beat Toni Lato to Arturo Vidal's pass and tumbled after a clip on his shin. Messi slammed the loose ball into the top corner but the whistle had blown. He rolled in the penalty instead.
Sergi's shot crashed against the post and Barca were dominant after half-time. Messi and Carles Alena had shots saved, and Messi headed over.
At the other end, on a rare Valencia break, Rodrigo should have made it three but, on the stretch, put it over from six yards.
That was in the 63rd minute, and in the 64th, Barcelona were level. Vidal teed up Messi, who teed up his own left foot and curled the ball inside the post.
The teams, and the crowd, seemed to take a breath, in anticipation of a late push, but it never came. The draw was a fair result.
Signs of Manchester United revival in loss to City: Wes Brown City were denied a second by a superb goal-line clearance from Ben Mee, who stretched to clear off the line after substitute Gabriel
Wes Brown recognises Ferguson fingerprints at Manchester
London (AFP) - Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha has been given a one-match ban by the Football Association for improper conduct after sarcastically applauding referee Andre Marriner. Zaha was punished following his antics in Palace's Premier League draw at Southampton on January 30.
Palace's Zaha banned for referee sarcastic clap | Sport24
Arsenal reached a second successive Europa League semi-final as they deservedly beat Napoli at the San Paolo Stadium to ease into the final four. Having secured a 2-0 victory in the first leg, the Gunners travelled to Naples knowing their fate was in their own hands.
Football: Arsenal beat Napoli to reach Europa League semi
Football: Zidane set for shock Real Madrid return, reports say MADRID (AFP) - Zinedine Zidane will make a shock return as coach of Real Madrid after the club decided on Monday (March 11) to sack Santiago Solari, say reports in the Spanish press.
Primera División » News » Zidane set for shock Madrid return
Chelsea's Giroud Seeks France Return To Boost Game Time Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud wants to move back to France when his contract expires at the end of the season after growing frustrated by
Olivier Giroud seeks France return to boost game time
Young Lions stay in hunt for finals. Mar 25, 2019, 5:00 am. Brains over brawn. Mar 25, 2019, 5:00 am. Football: Singapore Under-22s hold group top seeds North Korea to keep AFC Championship hopes
Lions learning to hunt - Africa Geographic
Fifa study to decide fate of 48-team World Cup, Football News
Newport manager believes shock City victory possible LONDON • Newport County manager Michael Flynn believes his side can conjure up the biggest shock in the history of the FA Cup when they host Premier League champions Manchester City in the fifth round today.
Newport vs Man City: Manager Michael Flynn claims victory
Now, I have landed a potential starting two guard, I have my three of the future set in Miles Bridges, I have an intriguing four man in Isaac, and I have Cody Zeller at the five. Even without Walker, this is a team that can start gelling and learning from each other right away.
How To Replace the F-35: Meet the 'Advanced' Super Hornet for
Crystal Palace moved further away from the Premier League relegation zone with a 3-1 win at fellow strugglers Burnley on Saturday thanks to second half goals from Michy Batshuayi and Wilfried Zaha. Palace took the lead in the 15th minute when Jeffrey Schlupp's pull-back struck Burnley defender Phil Bardsley and ricocheted into his own goal.
Liverpool set to earn almost £150 million after second-placed finish in Premier League to the Champions League final, with victory over Tottenham in Madrid of the domestic and overseas TV
Liverpool's record with Champions League final referee will
European football governing body UEFA said Friday that the correct anti-racism protocol had not been followed during the Italian league game between Inter Milan and Napoli midweek amid repeated abuse of Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly. Napoli's French-born Koulibaly was targeted by monkey
UEFA says anti-racism protocol not followed in Koulibaly case
0 comments:
Post a Comment