La Liga: Barcelona’s Title Hopes Put up with Large Blow Immediately after 2-2 Attract With Celta Vigo

Barcelona’s title hopes experienced a hammer blow on Saturday as they had been held to a 2-2 attract by Celta Vigo, handing Genuine Madrid the likelihood to transfer two details clear at the top of La Liga. Luis Suarez 2 times put Barca in front at Balaidos with his very first plans considering that January but Iago Aspas bent in a late totally free-kick to gain Celta a draw, in what could confirm a pivotal moment in the title race. Barcelona edge a position forward of Madrid but Zinedine Zidane’s facet will hope to consider a significant phase to turning out to be champions by successful absent at base club Espanyol on Sunday. 

Madrid personal the excellent head-to-head in opposition to Barca and have won four out of 4 given that La Liga restarted previously this month. With a kinder run-in than the Catalans, who play Atletico Madrid future on Tuesday, the trophy seems to be Madrid’s to get rid of. 

“The sensation is a adverse a person,” reported Suarez later on. “If we want to keep in the title race and have it in our arms we have to acquire all our video games. But we now have to rely on Madrid to fall factors.” 

Suarez played his finest match considering the fact that undergoing knee surgical procedure in January, his initially objective coming from a surprise free-kick from Lionel Messi, who crossed when absolutely everyone expected him to shoot. 

But Barcelona’s defensive frailties harm them once more and Celta must even have won it in injuries-time, only for Nolito to miss a golden opportunity at the again publish.

Celta climb to 16th, eight points very clear of the bottom 3.

Quique Setien answered calls to start 20-12 months-aged Riqui Puig and 17-calendar year-previous Ansu Fati, and the duo amazed, injecting electricity and pace into Barca’s attack. 

Antoine Griezmann was still left on the bench and when he came on, he was on the aspect of the wall that Aspas breached with his totally free-kick to find the bottom corner. 

Messi was at the heart of everything likely forward and it was his early corner that Gerard Pique headed in opposition to the crossbar. 

With a free of charge-kick on the edge of the space in the 20th minue and a 700th occupation target in sight, Messi sized up the sprawl of Celta defenders in front of him. 

But with everone expecting a shot, Messi clipped a cross to the publish, in which Suarez headed in. 

Messi even tried using to score from a corner but Celta experienced chances way too on the break. A poor clearance from Marc-Andre ter Stegen went unpunished by Fedor Smolov, who then overhit his pass when Aspas was very clear. Brais Mendez slid through and hit the article. 

The warnings went unheeded and when Arturo Vidal played a careless go early in the 2nd 50 %, Celta capitalised.

Aspas despatched All right Yokuslu sprinting in powering and he squared for Smolov to faucet in. 

Celta glimpse invigorated but Barca landed a sucker-punch. Denis Suarez misplaced possession underneath pressure from Fati, Messi performed into Luis Suarez, who backed in, turned and drove into the far corner. 

Promoted

It appeared like they experienced weathered the storm but Celta strike back again again, Aspas curling about the facet of the wall and into the corner with two minutes still left. 

They must even have gained it in personal injury-time as Denis Suarez teed up Nolito at the back again post but a scuffed finish allow Ter Stegen help you save on the line.