{"id":15433,"date":"2020-06-30T22:11:31","date_gmt":"2020-07-01T02:11:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=15433"},"modified":"2020-07-01T12:13:07","modified_gmt":"2020-07-01T16:13:07","slug":"messi-scores-700th-goal-but-barcelona-only-manage-draw-with-atletico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=15433","title":{"rendered":"Messi Scores 700th Goal But Barcelona Only Manage Draw With Atl\u00e9tico"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Lionel Messi scored his 700th career goal but Barcelona\u2019s title hopes suffered a huge blow against Atl\u00e9tico Madrid.<\/p>\n

The forward netted a cheeky second-half penalty but Barca could only draw 2-2 at the Nou Camp on Tuesday after two Saul Niguez spot kicks twice pegged them back.<\/p>\n

Messi has taken 862 appearances to reach the milestone but Barca missed the chance to return to the top of LaLiga and now trail Real Madrid by a point having played a game more.<\/p>\n

Barca opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Diego Costa accidentally sliced Messi\u2019s corner past Jan Oblak from close range.<\/p>\n

Costa\u2019s nightmare opening was just beginning when five minutes later he missed a penalty \u2013 only to be reprieved by Saul.<\/p>\n

The striker\u2019s initial spot kick \u2013 after Arturo Vidal fouled Yannick Carrasco \u2013 was saved by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen only for VAR to rule the goalkeeper was off his line.<\/p>\n

Saul stepped up to level from the retaken penalty and spare Costa\u2019s blushes.<\/p>\n

Messi hit the post after 22 minutes but did add a second after 50 minutes when Felipe tripped Nelson Semedo and the forward chipped his penalty down the middle.<\/p>\n

But Saul ensured third placed Atl\u00e9tico claimed a point when he scored his second spot kick after 62 minutes after Carrasco went down.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Oliver Torres\u2019 first-half brace cemented Sevilla\u2019s top four spot as they beat second-bottom Leganes 3-0.<\/p>\n

The midfielder struck twice in 12 minutes to help Sevilla move five points clear of Getafe in fifth, having played a game more.<\/p>\n

They closed the gap to Atl\u00e9tico to two points with Munir El Haddadi adding a late third.<\/p>\n

Struggling Real Mallorca boosted their survival chances after hammering drop rivals Celta Vigo 5-1.<\/p>\n

Alejandro Pozo, Juan Hernandez and Ante Budimir\u2019s penalty put the hosts 3-0 up at half time.<\/p>\n

Iago Aspas\u2019 second-half spot kick pulled a goal back for Celta but Budimir made it 4-1 soon after and Salva Sevilla completed the rout.<\/p>\n

Mallorca remain in the relegation zone but are now five points behind 17th placed Celta.<\/p>\n

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