BARCELONA were dealt a hammer blow in their pursuit of the LaLiga title as Iago Aspas scored two minutes from time for Celta Vigo in a 2-2 draw.
The result did see Barca go back to the top of a table, but they are a single point ahead of fierce rivals Real Madrid.
Iago Aspas ripped off his shirt to celebrate a stunning late equaliserCredit: Reuters
The former Liverpool man is then mobbed by his jubilant team-matesCredit: Reuters
Los Blancos, who travel to Catalonia to take on Espanyol in their game in hand on Sunday, also hold the crucial head-to-head tiebreaker after winning one and drawing the other of this season’s Clasicos.
As the game ticked into the final stages, Barca were looking good for a valuable three points.
Luis Suarez, not long back from a serious knee injury, scored twice, with Fedor Smolov’s goal at least giving Celta some hope.
And that hope turned into jubilation when Suarez’s fellow former Liverpool man, Aspas, curled home a brilliant free-kick on 88 minutes.
Luis Suarez had put Barcelona into a deserved first-half leadCredit: Reuters
Fedor Smolov was in the right place at the right time to equaliseCredit: AP:Associated Press
It won’t be one Antoine Griezmann wants to see again as he failed to do his job in the wall and allowed the ball to sail straight past him.
Thirty-two-year-old Aspas has now scored in the last five home games against Barcelona.
Celta could have even snatched the most unlikely of victories when in the fifth minute of injury-time Nolito’s effort was cleared off the line by keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
It means Lionel Messi’s wait for his 700th goal goes on to Atletico Madrid in their home game on Tuesday.
Suarez headed Barca in front in the 20th minute thanks to a piece of ingenuity from Messi, who looked certain to fire at goal from a free-kick but instead lofted the ball towards his Uruguayan strike partner.
Russia striker Smolov equalised for Celta early in the second half before Suarez again combined with Messi to restore Barca’s lead in the 67th minute. However, Aspas converted a free kick with two minutes remaining to break Barca hearts.
The referee accidentally showed Aspas a red card for taking his shirt off, instead of a yellowCredit: AP:Associated Press
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
