VILA-REAL (REUTERS) - Barcelona's Lionel Messi came off the bench to help the Liga leaders battle back from 4-2 down in stoppage time to snatch a remarkable 4-4 draw at struggling Villarreal on Tuesday (April 2).
The Catalans avoided a first league loss since November with a last-gasp Luis Suarez strike after captain and top scorer Messi gave them hope with a deadly free kick in the 90th minute.
The draw resulted in Barca's lead over nearest challengers Atletico Madrid, who had earlier won 2-0 at home to lowly Girona, being trimmed to eight points ahead of Saturday's top-of-the-table showdown at the Nou Camp.
Even without Messi, Gerard Pique and Ivan Rakitic in their starting lineup, the visitors still strolled into the lead through a Philippe Coutinho goal in the 12th minute, which Brazilian forward Malcom soon doubled with a header.
But Villarreal, who began the game hovering one point above the relegation zone, hauled themselves into contention with a strike from 19-year-old Samuel Chukwueze midway through the first half.
Cameroon striker Karl Toko Ekambi took advantage of slack positioning from Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to equalise soon after the interval and Vicente Iborra completed the home side's remarkable revival just after the hour mark.
Messi was called from the bench to rescue the champions but instead Villarreal increased their lead with a strike from their substitute Carlos Bacca.
Alvaro Gonzalez was then dismissed for Villarreal for a second booking with four minutes remaining, paving the way for Messi and Suarez to strike for Barca and produce a remarkable finish to an enthralling contest.
GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (REUTERS) - Late goals from Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling gave Manchester City a 3-2 win at Schalke 04 in their Champions League Round of 16 first leg on Wednesday (Feb 20
Man City late comeback stuns Schalke - Daily Nation
Football: Luis Suarez says Barcelona 'looked like schoolboys
LONDON • Aaron Ramsey has agreed a five-year deal with Juventus worth £36 million (S$62 million) and will join the Italian champions on a free transfer at the end of the season.. Read more at
Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey agrees five-year deal with Juventus
According to the reports, Ranieri, has signed a multi-year contract with the club. Fulham, spending an astounding £100m on new players this summer, are still placed bottom after conceding a league-high 31 goals, having only managed five points from their 12 games this season. A probable reason why Jokanovic was fired without a second thought.
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd sent Sanchez claims, Liverpool
Late Ronaldo goal foils Torino. The match was being played one day before the 70th anniversary of the Superga air disaster which killed 18 Torino players and officials, wiping out the most
Premier League » News » Spurs shine to hit Everton for six
(Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino remained defiant despite his side preparing for their Champions League semi-final second leg against Ajax Amsterdam in disjointed fashion
Pochettino defiant as poor Tottenham form continues
Football: Mourinho concedes Man United incapable of living
Qatar will not take a decision on whether to expand its 2022 World Cup to 48 teams from 32 until it has seen the details of a feasibility study from FIFA, an decide on 48-team World Cup until
FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019 - Technical Study Group (TSG)
The new licenses have a gold star in the upper right hand corner indicating it is a federally accepted "Real ID." Real ID is set to be coming to Rhode Island near the end of this year or January 2019.
Thom Yorke - Wikipedia
Football: Salah, Origi strike to give Liverpool Champions League triumph. It was Liverpool's first Champions League triumph since their incredible comeback against Milan in 2005 and, while
Salah, Origi strike to give Liverpool Champions League triumph
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen