Barcelona vs Celta Vigo. Spanish La Liga.
Camp NouAttendance61,632.
Saturday 2 December 2017 16:34, UK
Lionel Messi scored his first goal in six matches as Barcelona were held to an entertaining 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo at the Nou Camp in La Liga.
The visitors took an unlikely 20th-minute lead as Iago Aspas netted from a rebound, but Messi (22) equalised less than two minutes later.
Suarez (62) gave the home side the lead just past the hour as he coolly slotted past Ruben Blanco, however, there was a sting in the tail for the league leaders as Maxi Gomez (70) slammed home eight minutes later to ensure the points were shared.
The draw leaves Barcelona five points clear of Valencia in second, who play Getafe on Sunday, while Celta move up to eighth ahead of the remaining fixtures this weekend.
Despite Barca dominating the early proceedings of the match, Aspas took advantage of Jordi Alba being out of position to race clear on the right. His cross was met by Maximiliano Gomez, whose first-time shot was brilliantly saved by Ter Stegen - but Aspas latched on to the rebound to send the visiting fans wild.
Having conceded just their sixth goal of the season, the hosts wasted no time in drawing level, as Luis Suarez and Paulinho played a neat one-two outside the box before playing in Messi, who tucked the ball neatly underneath Blanco from six yards out.
Suarez looked to have given the hosts the lead just a minute later but, having been played clear through by Messi, the 30-year-old was adjudged to have been offside - despite Pione Sisto looking to be level with him.
Spurred on by the harsh call, Barca pressed forward and Messi hit the post before Blanco made a point-blank save from Paulinho.
After the break it took until 17 minutes for the home side to finally take the lead as Alba was afforded too much time on the left to pass the ball to an unmarked Suarez - who would not be denied just his sixth league goal of the campaign this season.
As the hosts went for the killer goal to ensure all three points, Celta continued to play on the break and Aspas was able to race away from Samuel Umtiti - who looked to have pulled his hamstring - into acres of space before squaring to Gomez to smash home the equaliser.
Messi had the chance to win the match for Barcelona in the dying seconds of injury time as Celta captain Hugo Mallo hauled down the forward 25-yards out but the Argentinian's effort flew wide.
