Barca denied by ghost goal against Real Betis

MADRID: Barcelona’s La Liga title challenge suffered a huge blow as the Spanish champions were controversially held 1-1 at Real Betis despite Luis Suarez’s last minute equaliser on Sunday.

Aleix Alegria gave Betis the lead their dominance deserved 15 minutes from time when he bundled home from close range after Marc-Andre ter Stegen flapped at a corner.

However, Barca were rightly infuriated seconds later as the ball clearly crossed the Betis goalline, but no goal was given by referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez.

Suarez did at least rescue a point in the dying seconds, though, as he slotted home Lionel Messi’s through ball for his 21st goal of the season.

Barca move above Sevilla into second on goal difference, but remain a point adrift of Real Madrid, who have two games in hand, the first of which comes at home to Real Sociedad later on Sunday.

Sevilla are also in action later at Espanyol.

“We have to help the referees,” Barca boss Luis Enrique told BeIN Sports Spain.

“The technology can help them. I say that for all situations not just ones that go for me, but against me too.”

Suarez was less understanding as he claimed the ball “was a metre over the line.”

Ultimately Enrique paid the price for again heavily rotating his side with Wednesday’s Copa del Rey semifinal, first leg at Atletico Madrid in mind.

“The feeling I have is that we have won one point (not lost two),” he added.

Enrique made six changes in all, including three of the back four and Betis took advantage with a bright start. Ter Stegen was forced into saves from Ruben Castro and Dani Ceballos early on. However, Barca arguably had the best chance of the first-half when Antonio Adan flew off his line to deny Neymar from another scintillating Messi pass.

Enrique made all three of his substitutions early in the second period, but Barca were still struggling to gain a foothold under Betis’ intense pressing.

Ceballos saw a dipping long-range effort come back off the bar before Castro struck the post with Ter Stege Stegen beaten at his near post.

The German goalkeeper had a moment to forget for the openingopenin goal as he failed to get a goo good connection on an attempted punchpunc under pressure from two Betis playersplayer and the ball fell kindly for Alegria tot tap home. Conceding appeared to wak wake Barca from their slumber andan they were doubly denied byb Hernandez seconds late later as Neymar went dow down inside the area and th the ball ricocheted toward towards the Betis goal off RizaRiz Durmisi.

Replays showedshowe the ball clearl clearly went over th the line before Aliss Alissa

Mandi cleared.cleared