Our La Liga Game of the Week saw Sevilla and Barcelona play out an entertaining 2-2 draw at La Bombonera as the visitors valiant fightback saw them come from two goals behind to retain their unbeaten streak in this season’s campaign.
Having lost two games on the bounce in a season that has seen them undergo intermittent periods of bad form, the hosts came into this tie with an attitude suggestive that they believed they had a point to prove.
With Correa having missed an early opportunity to put his side ahead, he made amends by setting up Franco Vasquez to open the scoring, the latter scuffing home the Argentine’s ball from six yards out.
The Italian international’s goal put him on four for the season as he hit 39 points across the campaign.
Vasquez goal will have come as a surprise to opposition keeper Marc ter Stegen, who has kept a fantastic record of 18 clean sheets in his 30 La Liga games this season – a record that has helped him to 120 points thus far.
Muriel then doubled the sides lead in the 50th minute – seventh of the season – to leave the fans dreaming of an unlikely victory against the division’s run away leaders.
Barcelona were left frustrated for fast swathes of the game, their efforts to get a foothold in the game thwarted by a stubborn Sevilla defence and misfortunue – Rakitic coming closes with a headed effort that came back off the post.
With the side staring down the barrel of a first La Liga defeat in the 2017/18 campaign, Luis Suarez gave his side a glimmer of hope in the 88th minute when he ghosted in at the back post to acrobatically half volley in from close range, Sevilla having failed to clear from a corner.
His goal put him on 22 for the season as he hit the 96 point mark in the match.
The final twist of this enthralling game just a minute later, as a hopeful ball to the edge of the box from Philippe Coutinho was emphatically latched onto by Lionel Messi, whose sweeping left footed effort saw him secure an unlikely equaliser at the death.
His effort put him onto 26 goals for the season – which he can gleefully add to a record of 126 points and 12 assists – to send the traveling fans into rapturous celebrations.
The exceptional nature of their comeback reflects a Barcelona side that is destined for title glory in the coming weeks and exemplifies the ‘never say die’ attitude that has facilitated it.
With the season drawing into its final stages, the draw means that the Catalan giants remain on course to instigate an undefeated season – an accolade that would rightfully put Valverde’s men into the club’s history books.
Barcelona next see La Liga action on Saturday as they host Leganes at the Camp Nou, whilst Sevilla face a touch journey to Celta Vigo.
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