Pro Sports

Leader Barcelona loses points at home against Celta Vigo

Posted December 02, 2017 6:00 am

By TALES AZZONI

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi, center, pauses during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) The Associated Press

MADRID (AP) - Barcelona stumbled for the second consecutive week in the Spanish league, being held to a 2-2 home draw against Celta Vigo on Saturday and giving its nearest challengers a chance to move closer to the top.

Barcelona now has a five-point lead over second-place Valencia, which plays at mid-table Getafe on Sunday.

Third-place Atletico Madrid and fourth-place Real Madrid are nine points behind the Catalan club ahead of their games later Saturday. Atletico hosts Real Sociedad and Real Madrid plays at Athletic Bilbao.

"It's tough to lose points at home in such an important game," Barcelona midfielder Paulinho said. "We had plenty of chances but we didn't take advantage of them."

Barcelona had won 11 of its 13 league matches entering the weekend. Its other setbacks in the league this season were draws at Atletico Madrid and at Valencia last week.

It hadn't lost points at home in 18 straight league matches, since a 1-1 draw against rival Real Madrid nearly a year ago.

"This result will boost our players' morale," said Celta coach Juan Carlos Unzue, who used to be Luis Enrique's assistant at Barcelona. "It shows that we are on the right track and that we are getting better each day."

Celta, eighth in the standings, has proved a tough opponent for Barcelona, losing only two of its last five matches against the Spanish powerhouse.

It opened the scoring with Iago Aspas' close-range shot in the 20th minute. Lionel Messi equalized just two minutes later from inside the area after an assist by Paulinho, taking his league-leading tally to 13 goals.

Luis Suarez put Barcelona ahead after a cross by Jordi Alba in the 61st, becoming Barcelona's 10th all-time top scorer with 127 goals in 165 games.

Celta evened the match less than 10 minutes later with a goal by Maxi Gomez from inside the area after being set up by Aspas in a breakaway which saw Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti hurt a right leg muscle. He was substituted and the club later said Umtiti could be out for two months.

Barcelona captain Andre Iniesta also had to be substituted because of an apparent injury early in the second half.

"It took a while for us to get into the game, but we eventually took control," Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said. "In the end we had our opportunities to win, but we couldn't get it done."

Defender Gerard Pique had a chance to put Barcelona ahead in the 75th, but his close-range shot from a tight angle hit the post after he had cleared goalkeeper Ruben Blanco and had an open net in front of him.

Messi just missed with a header in the 85th, and a minute later Celta had a chance to score the potential winner but Pione Sisto's shot from inside the area was stopped by a remarkable foot save by Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

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More AP Spanish soccer coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/LaLiga

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Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi looks on during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) The Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi, right, heads the ball during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) The Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Luis Suarez, left, celebrates after scoring with teammates during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) The Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) The Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) The Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Gerard Pique, left, duels for the ball against Celta Vigo's goalkeeper Ruben Blanco, center, during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) The Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Jordi Alba, center, duels for the ball against Celta Vigo's Gustavo Cabral, right, during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) The Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Luis Suarez, center right, scores during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) The Associated Press

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