The draw means Real have the chance to go two points clear of Barcelona.
Barcelona‘s title hopes was dealt another blow after a 2-2 stalemate to bogie side Celta Vigo at the Balaidos. Luis Suarez twice put the visitors ahead in each halves, but the Skyblues responded through Fydor Smolov and Iago Aspas, who struck a wonderful free-kick late in the match.
Nolito however, wasted a glorious chance to win it for the hosts in the dying embers, but a share of the spoils seems fare given the end-to-end nature of the match.
Los Blancos can now widen the gap to two points with a win over Espanyol tomorrow. Here are the key talking and observations:
Aspas just loves scoring against Barca
Heading into the match, Iago Aspas had struck six times in 11 games against the Catalans, including each of the last four league games at the Balaidos. So there was an air of inevitability that he’d score again, and how about them apples! With the clock winding down as the Celeste won a free kick at the edge of the area, the Spaniard whipped in an extraordinary curler that swung around the Barca wall before crashing into the net.
Aspas with the second goal and also, while not the assist, the pass that makes the first. What a player. Lord Barrington of Aspas.
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) June 27, 2020
There was no way Ter Stegen could’ve done anything about that. It was merely icing on the cake he spent all evening baking. The Spaniard was superb all along and also created the first goal with a wonderful overhead pass for Okay Yosuklu. What a clutch player, this guy.
The Messi-Suarez connection is special
More from La Liga
- Jude Bellingham will carry on Real Madrid’s No. 5 jersey legacy
- A night of farewells for Barcelona against Mallorca
- Barcelona manager backs Vinicius Jr. following racist abuse
- Barcelona all but seal LaLiga title with win over Osasuna
- Barcelona look to edge closer to LaLiga title
Ever since Neymar left, the partnership between Messi and Suarez has grown stronger. After all, they are the two biggest attacking threats of this side. And today, they combined once again to lethal effect and manoeuvred both strikes.
For the first one, the former thumped in a pinpoint free-kick which the Uruguayan comfortably yet skillfully headed home. Then in the second stanza, Messi, under pressure from Celta defenders, dragged a pass for Suarez, who then spins inside the area and arrows a ferocious strike into the bottom corner.
Two goals for the No 9. Two assists for the No 10. The ‘Frick and Frack’ of Barcelona at it again!
Nolito spurns a great chance
Having come on as a substitute at the hour mark, ex-Barcelona man Nolito was largely pedestrian for most of the game – until he was presented with a golden chance to net the winner for Celta Vigo. In the dying seconds of the match, the Spaniard is played a cross that rolls across the face of the goal and all he had to do were tap it into an empty net but instead scuffs the ball for Ter Stegan to collect. Absolutely shocking from Nolito, but a real let-off for Barca.
The gauntlet is for Real Madrid to pick now
This one’s going right down the wire. As the holders drop yet more points, the Whites are once again presented with an unmissable opportunity to put the daylights between them and their Clasico rivals.
Real Madrid can open up a two-point gap at the top with a win away to bottom-dwellers Espanyol, and given the circumstances right now, they don’t appear to bottle this chance.
And that’s not even the worst part – the Blaugrana next play Atletico Madrid, before travelling away to Villarreal, both of which are potential banana skin. Failure to win either of those games will plunge their title hopes in real jeopardy. Squeaky bum time ahead in La Liga!
What did you think of the match?