Lionel Messi’s stoppage-time goal salvaged a 2-2 draw for Barcelona at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, as leaders Real Madrid moved three points clear after their 7-1 thrashing of 10-man CA Osasuna.
Midfielder Ander Herrera put Bilbao ahead in the 20th minute at the San Mames, before Cesc Fabregas drew the visitors level with a header four minutes later.
Bilbao appeared set to get the win after Gerard Pique scored an own-goal in the 80th minute, but Messi slotted home his league-leading 14th goal in the 91st minute to share the points.
Photo: Reuters
“At the end we showed our mettle,” said Fabregas, whose Barcelona remain undefeated in 18 games in all competitions.
Under steady rain, Barcelona and Bilbao set a frenetic, up-and-down pace from the start.
Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa sought to beat Barcelona at their own game by pressing the European champions and looking for young playmakers Iker Muniain and Ander to create chances for Spain striker Fernando Llorente.
“We aimed to take the game to them,” Ander said.
Bilbao’s daring approach paid off when Ander received a pass from Markel Susaeta on the edge of the area and curled his right-foot shot into the right side of the net for the opener.
Bilbao goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz did well to block Dani Alves’ strike from a set piece, but he could do nothing when Fabregas rose above his marker to guide home Eric Abidal’s well-placed cross to momentarily silence the crowd.
Puddles of water appeared on the pitch after halftime, slowing down the ball, but not the flow of the game.
Bilbao went ahead for the second time when Abidal’s clearance took a deflection off Llorente, before Pique inadvertently redirected it into his own net, but in the dying moments Messi pounced on his own rebound to fire into the corner of the net and earn the away draw.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was full of praise for both teams.
“How they run, I’ve never seen a team run so much, how they plug the spaces. It’s absolutely [a Bielsa] team,” Guardiola said about Bilbao, who are undefeated in 10 straight games. “What a spectacle these 22 players put on. This is one of the best games that I have been in and that’s because both teams went out to win.”
Even so, it is the first time Barcelona have trailed Real by three points since Guardiola took over as coach of his former team three years ago.
Elsewhere on Sunday, 10-man Getafe jumped from last place to 14th after rallying to beat Atletico Madrid 3-2.
Striker Helder Postiga equalized in stoppage-time to secure a 2-2 draw for Real Zaragoza against Sporting de Gijon.
Miguel “Michu” Perez scored twice as promoted side Rayo Vallecano de Madrid thrashed 10-man Real Sociedad 4-0, sending the side from San Sebastian to the bottom of the table.
Granada against Real Racing Club de Santander and RCD Espanyol versus Villarreal both finished 0-0.
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