Barca held by Depor after blowing two-goal lead
BARCELONA: Barcelona threw away a two-goal lead set up by Lionel Messi and Ivan Rakitic in the final 13 minutes as Deportivo la Coruna struck a blow to their title hopes in a 2-2 draw yesterday.
German Lux turned a Messi drive from distance behind, but there was nothing he could do to prevent the four-time World Player of the Year recording his fifth goal in as many games with a stunning free-kick that dipped into the top corner.
Suarez was off target with a piledriver just before the break, but it was Deportivo who made the better start to the second-half and Bravo had to be alert to claim Faycal Fajr’s attempted chip.
Barca looked to have made the game safe with another stunning strike as Rakitic rifled the ball into the bottom corner from 25 yards for his first league goal of the season.
Deportivo thought they were back in the game when Perez headed home after Cardoso’s initial effort had come off the bar, but he was also ruled offside.
However, Perez was not to be denied his 11th goal of the season moments later as he outmuscled Jeremy Mathieu to slot home.
Perez was also key in teeing up the equaliser as his measured pass was blasted into the far corner by
Bergantinos to stun the Camp Nou.
REAL EXPULSION UPHELD
Spain’s administrative court for sport on Friday upheld Real Madrid’s disqualification from the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player while it decides on the club’s appeal of their suspension.
The court said in a statement there was no grounds to suspend the decision of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to expel Real as the club had requested but it has yet to decide on the appeal itself.