Barcelona Hit By Late Penalty To Draw With Cadiz

By Daily Sports on February 21, 2021

Barcelona compounded their Champions League misery at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain by drawing on Sunday at home to Cadiz, who scored an 89th-minute penalty to snatch a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou.

Lionel Messi broke a Barcelona record by making his 506th LaLiga appearance for the club and marked the milestone with a goal, his own spot-kick looking likely to secure a narrow win for his side.

But Barca failed to score a second despite a hatful of chances and Cadiz punished them with a late equaliser, Alex Fernandez converting from the spot after a wild swing from Clement Lenglet.

The draw means Ronald Koeman's side move only one point closer to Atletico Madrid in the table instead of three, after Atletico gave their rivals an opportunity by losing at home to Levante on Saturday.

"I'm very disappointed," said Koeman. "Maybe even more than after the game on Tuesday. We were on a good run in the league and we could have cut the distance with those above us.

"We didn't have many problems and it's a game that with our quality we should win, but we haven't done it."

Barcelona had won their previous seven games and another victory would have put them back in sight of Atletico, who are now eight points ahead of the Catalans. Real Madrid are only three points behind Atleti but have played a game more.

"It hurts a lot, after Atletico’s result, we had a chance," said Gerard Pique. "So lose two points like we did in the last minute is tough to swallow.”

It also brings an end to a hugely disappointing week for Barcelona after their 4-1 hammering by PSG, with Elche up next on Wednesday before a tough trip to fourth-placed Sevilla next weekend.

Barca had 21 shots to Cadiz's three but having failed to capitalise, they were always vulnerable to a lapse at the back, which the out-of-form Lenglet duly provided.

Fernandez held his nerve to score the equaliser, an even more memorable goal for him perhaps as a Real Madrid fan and brother of Madrid defender Nacho Fernandez.

Messi's goal was his 16th of the season, drawing him level with Atletico's Luis Suarez at the top of the LaLiga charts.

The 33-year-old cooly rolled the ball into the corner after Pedri was stopped from breaking through, sandwiched between Salvi and Isaac Carcelen.

Both Frenkie de Jong and Pedi had goals ruled out for offside while Messi almost teed up Antoine Griezmann early in the second half. Ousmane Dembele's driving run lacked a finish too.

Then Cadiz's moment came, a long ball launched into the box and Lenglet failing to spot Ruben Sobrino arriving behind him. Lenglet swung a leg but Sobrino touched the ball away first, allowing Fernandez a special equaliser.

•PHOTO: Barca great Messi

Source Daily Sports

Posted February 21, 2021


 

You may also like...
Atletico, Inter Join English Clubs In ESL Withdrawal...

A Vote of Confidence on Dare, Amaju, Eagles...

Lukaku Shines as Manchester United Snatch Late Victory...

Man Utd Hopeful Telles Can Face West Brom...

Falcons set W’Cup target as team arrives Australia...

Liverpool win as Arsenal, United rise

 

Latest News CAF Award: Hedriel congratulates Lookman, says his award will inspire him to work harder Managers deserve 'more respect' - Postecoglou Man City's Dias ruled out for 'three or four weeks' I put him in retirement, Dubois mocks Joshua EPL: Man Utd’s Mount out for weeks as injury struggles persist Fury, Usyk talk tough ahead rematch Carragher urges Rashford to move on from Man United Fury and Usyk in astonishing 11-minute face-off Liverpool draw Tottenham in EFL Cup semi-finals LeBron James sets new NBA record in Lakers win Lookman’s market value hits €55m FIFA rankings: Eagles end 2024 in 44th place

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,207 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,351 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,408 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,051 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,988 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,952 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,787 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,355 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,426 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,094 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,542 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,974 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media