Milestone match for Messi turns sour
MADRID: Lionel Messi scored his 700th career goal but Barcelona suffered another blow to their La Liga title hopes after a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Messi chipped in a penalty to reach another astonishing milestone at Camp Nou but twice Atletico hit back with spot-kicks of their own, Saul Niguez converting both after Barca took an early lead through Diego Costa’s own goal.
The result gave Real Madrid the chance to move four points clear at the top of the table if they could overcome Getafe at home later yesterday, a formidable lead with five games left.
Atletico stay third, two points ahead of Sevilla, who won 3-0 at Leganes.
With a superior head-to-head, it would take a dramatic capitulation for Real Madrid not to lift the trophy from here but there is no guarantee Barcelona can finish strongly enough even to create pressure.
This was their third draw in four matches and with suggestions of disharmony between the players and coaching staff, the future of coach Quique Setien looks bleak too.
“From the dressing room I feel supported, yes,” he said. “And regarding the meeting with the board, I will not say what was said in that.”
Setien was also asked about his job on Monday and had to play down the significance of a frank exchange of views in the dressing room following Saturday’s draw at Celta Vigo.
Messi had also caused a stir by appearing to ignore Setien’s assistant Eder Sarabia during a water break at Vigo and on Tuesday it was impossible to ignore the contrast with Atletico’s players, who huddled around Diego Simeone while 50 metres away Setien stood alone.
At full-time, Setien stared into space with the look of a coach that is running out of time but he had taken bold decisions, leaving €120-million signing Antoine Griezmann on the bench and handing another start to 20-year-old Riqui Puig.
“It’s true that taking him out of the team like that is hard for a player of his level but the circumstances forced me to do it,” said Setien of Griezmann. “Tomorrow I will speak to him, not to apologise, but it is a decision he has to understand.”
Earlier, Sevilla’s Oliver Torres scored twice and Munir El Haddadi added a third to see off Leganes and boost their hopes of holding onto fourth place.
Sevilla sit five points ahead of Getafe, having played a game more. Leganes stay 19th, nine points adrift of safety.
RESULTS
Real Mallorca 5 (Budimir 13-pen, 52, Hernandez 27, Pozo 40, Salva Sevilla 60) Celta Vigo 1 (Aspas 50-pen); Leganes 0 Sevilla 3 (Torres Munoz 23, 35, Munir 82); Barcelona 2 (Costa 12-og, Messi 50-pen) Atletico Madrid 2 (Niguez 19-pen, 62-pen)
FIXTURES
(kick-offs Thai time)
Today
Eibar v Osasuna (00.30am, Fri), Real Sociedad v Espanyol (00.30am), Real Madrid v Getafe (3am)
STANDINGS P W D L GF GA Pts Real Madrid 32 21 8 3 60 21 71 Barcelona 33 21 7 5 74 35 70 Atletico 33 15 14 4 43 25 59 Sevilla 33 15 12 6 48 33 57 Getafe 32 14 10 8 42 30 52 Villarreal 32 15 6 11 51 40 51 Sociedad 32 14 5 13 48 41 47 Valencia 32 12 10 10 41 46 46 Bilbao 32 11 12 9 36 28 45 Granada 32 12 7 13 38 38 43 Osasuna 32 10 11 11 38 47 41 Levante 32 12 5 15 41 46 41 Real Betis 32 9 10 13 43 52 37 Valladolid 32 7 14 11 27 37 35 Eibar 32 9 8 15 34 48 35 Alaves 32 9 8 15 32 48 35 Celta Vigo 33 7 13 13 32 42 34 Mallorca 33 8 5 20 35 56 29 Leganes 33 5 10 18 24 49 25 Espanyol 32 5 9 18 26 51 24
Notes: Top four qualify for Champions League; Fifth and sixth into Europa League; Bottom three relegated