Suarez brace not enough as Barcelona slip in La Liga race

A late Iago Aspas free kick cost Barcelona from La Liga race after dropping two very valuable points in a 2-2 draw at the Estadio de Balaidos.

Before the start of this match, the Catalans had the same amount of points as Real Madrid but were ahead on goal difference, keeping them at the top of the league.

With this draw now, Los Blancos now have the chance to capitalize and surpass their rivals with only seven games left in the season.

Gerard Pique drew the first chance with a header that hit the crossbar from a Lionel Messi corner six minutes in.

A quarter of an hour later, a brilliant goal from Luis Suarez opened the scoring. A free-kick was given to Messi just outside the box, the Celta Vigo defence too busy trying to cover every inch of the goal with a long wall. This left the Barca number nine unmarked. Instead of the expected shot, the skipper crossed it to his partner in crime who found the net comfortably.

The hosts were filled with an unlikely confidence as Brais Mendez tried hitting back rapidly only for the ball to be deflected by keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen towards the right post.

Messi tried doubling the lead with a curled shot from the edge of the box, one that went wide of the right post as the score remained the same as the halftime whistle was blown.

The Sky Blues came determined to the second half and equalised, Okay Yokuslu and Fedor Smolov outnumbered Pique, Yokuslu found his teammate who leveled the score as he pushed the ball towards an empty net.

Oscar Garcia decides to make three substitutions from the home dugout at the half hour mark: Nolito, Rafinha and Filip Bradaric for Smolov, Yokuslu and Mendez, respectively.

In the 67th minute, Suarez doubled his tally in the game, Messi yet again the provider. The Uruguayan managed to turn with company on his back and buried it in the bottom right corner.

Action from both benches followed as Santi Mina came on for Jacobo, while Antoine Griezmann and Junior Firpo replaced Suarez and Jordi Alba. Arthur was given some minutes as he took Riqui Puig’s place, the Brazilian is reportedly set for a move to Italian giants Juventus.

With only two minutes left of normal time, Aspas conjured up the real final bit of magic. With ter Stegen left a bystander, the German watched on as he watched the ball embrace the net to his right.

Barcelona might have just made the slip-up that will offer Real Madrid the chance to seal the league title.

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