Barcelona now only have a fivepoint lead from second place contender Atletico Madrid in La Liga after their thrilling draw against Las Palmas.
With the Blaugrana’s upcoming crucial clash on Sunday against Antoine Griezmann and Co, everything indicated that Ernesto Valverde would give a few of his main men some rest but that was not the case. The coach called up a strong squad with the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez (who was one card away from suspension), and Andres Iniesta.
But Valverde made the right decision in bringing his top players, as the home side made things very difficult for the Catalans. Las Palmas’ impressive defensive work blocked out all of their rival’s many attempts on goal with the exclusion of Messi’s stunning free-kick in the 21 minute.
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Lionel Messi magic
The Argentine star continues to shine on the pitch, and this time he scored yet another worldly free-kick to give his team the lead. There is absolutely nothing the 5’7” man can’t do on the pitch. La Pulga has added to his tally, converting 33 goals from outside the box throughout his decorative career at Barcelona.
Messi’s goal stood alone until the second half when Las Palmas were awarded a penalty in the 47th minute. Despite the call being very controversial, Calleri took his chance and smashed the ball home, leveling the match and creating an even more intense environment between the two teams.
As the minutes passed, the tension rose, causing even more pressure for the Catalan club, who were in a desperate search for another goal. But Paco Jemez’s men continued to shut down their chances with their solid defence.
After six minutes of additional time, the clash ended with a 1-1 draw. This result means Barca are now only five points away from Los Colchoneros; therefore, Messi and company must perform at their best against Atletico Madrid on Sunday at the Camp Nou to keep their dominance on the table.
Next: Las Palmas 1-1 Barcelona
Barcelona must also keep their crucial Chelsea match in mind, as they will need all their players fresh and ready to take on the Blues in the Champions League.