Lionel Messi scores but Barcelona fail to win against relegation threatened Las Palmas in an intense La Liga clash

macfranc007 March 02, 2018 IFTTT, Latest Sport News | Today on Naij.com Arinze Esomnofu

- Spanish giant Barcelona were held to a 1 - 1 draw by a resilient relegation threatened Las Palmas

- Barcelona are now five points ahead of second place Atletico Madrid

- Messi scored in the first half but the host equalised at the beginning of the second half

Spanish giant Barcelona were held to a 1 - 1 draw by a resilient relegation threatened Las Palmas at the Estadio de Gran Canaria in an entertaining La Liga clash.

Barcelona, before this rather surprising draw, were just four points ahead of second place Atletico Madrid and needed all three points in this one to cruise to a comfortable lead in the La Liga.

But thanks to the resilient display of the host, Ernesto Valverde side can only boast of a five point lead in the La Liga which scream - game on!

The Camp Nou giants took control of the game right from kick off but it took 21 minutes before the visitors got their much awaited lead as Lionel Messi unleashed a spectacular free kick from just outside the box, hitting the top left corner to make the scoreline 1 - 0 in favour of Barcelona.

The host showed composure after going a goal down, but it was not enough to trouble Barcelona as the both team walked into the dressing room at the end of 45 minutes with Barcelona taking the lead.

And the efforts of Las Palmas finally paid off just three minutes into the second half as Jonathan Calleri put the ball into the top right corner past the outstretched arm of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

The equaliser came early into the second half and one would have expected a Barcelona side that boast of the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho to put more goals past the net of the underdogs.

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But that was not the case as the host held on to their lead to the cheer amazement of their home fans and claimed a valuable point against the League leaders.

In other La Liga clash for the night, Alaves were a goal good over Levante, Real Betis shared spoils in a goalless clash with Real Sociedad.

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