Barcelona and Atletico Madrid played a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou on Tuesday evening in a game that saw the conversion of three penalties and a personal goal that marked the final standings.
The game saw Lionel Messi score his 700th career goal for Barcelona and Argentina, but the result means more points lost for reigning La Liga champions as they are one behind Real Madrid in first place, which has a game in hand against Getafe on Thursday.
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“It’s a shame and the league title seems to be much more difficult for us in every game,” said Barca coach Quique Setien, whose team has drawn three of its six games since the campaign resumed after the game. interruption of the coronavirus.
“Eliminating these points in reality pushes us further away from the title, but we must continue to work hard.”
The Catalans desperately needed to win after twice throwing the lead away to draw 2-2 with Celta Vigo on Saturday, but the story repeated itself while Setien’s team failed to shine against a particular Atletico who is unbeaten from the second half. of the season.
The two teams exchanged goals in the opening 20 minutes with a corner kick from Messi who made his way into the back of the net off Diego Costa’s leg for an own goal.
A few minutes later, Saul Niguez equalized from the penalty spot after Marc-Andre ter Stegen was accused of leaving his line from VAR early on his initial save from Costa’s effort.
Messi almost scored in 22 minutes, but his attempt to curling from the right side of the penalty area only cut the post far.
Jan Oblak saved a Messi free-kick from outside the penalty area just before the break while the teams went to the locker room stuck in a 1-1 draw after a fun first half.
Messi’s 700th came at the beginning of the second half when the Argentine beat Oblak from the penalty spot with a cheeky chip to give his team a 2-1 lead and become only the seventh football player to reach that sign.
Atleti equalized in the 62nd minute with yet another penalty, Saul converting his second of the evening after Yannick Carrasco was stumbled by Nelson Semedo, who had just scored Messi’s penalty foul early in the middle.
Both teams pushed for the winner, but none came, which means that Barcelona could get four points from the first after Real on Thursday. Atletico Madrid are in third place, with two points ahead of Sevilla, who beat Leganes earlier in the day.
