Real draw, Barcelona
MADRID: Barcelona moved top of La Liga on the night Luis Enrique confirmed he will not continue as coach next season as Gareth Bale was sent-off in Real Madrid’s thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Las Palmas.
Enrique announced his decision to step down after Barca’s 6-1 rout of Sporting Gijon earlier on Wednesday which leaves Barcelona a point clear at the top, but having played a game more.
Bale’s first ever red card in a Madrid shirt look set to cost the European champions dear as Las Palmas led the 10 men 3-1 with just three minutes remaining.
However, Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice in an incredible finale to salvage a point. Madrid’s slip up, though, means a third title in as many seasons for Enrique is back in Barcelona’s hands with the two sides still to meet in April.
“I will not be the coach of Barcelona next season,” Enrique said, citing the need for a break from the pressures at the Camp Nou as the reason for his decision. “It is a difficult, measured and well thought out decision and I think I have to be loyal to what I think.”
After Barca had swept aside Sporting with all of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar on the scoresheet, Madrid also looked in for an easy night at the Bernabeu when Isco slotted home the opener after just eight minutes.
However, Real were in front for just two minutes before Tana spun Sergio Ramos on the edge of the box before firing high past Keylor Navas. The game turned just three minutes into the second-half when Bale lost his temper after a late challenge from Jonathan Viera. The Welshman pushed Viera to the ground and was punished with a red card. “He has apologised. He is not happy with the sending-off,” said Zinedine Zidane.
Things got much worse for the hosts in the next 10 minutes as, firstly, Viera converted from the penalty spot after a clear handball by Ramos inside the area.
And then a huge mistake from Navas allowed Kevin-prince Boateng to knock the ball past the Costa Rican as he flew from his
goal before rolling the ball into an empty net. However, despite their numerical disadvantage, Madrid laid seige to the Las Palmas goal and were rewarded in the final minutes. Ronaldo scored the penalty after Dani Castellano was penalised for handball. And the World Player of the Year then bulleted home a header from a corner a minute from time to salvage a point.
“We are not leaders, but the league is still open and we are not going to give up,” added Zidane.