Barca let two-goal lead slip in 2-2 draw at Sevilla

DPA/MadridBarcelona’s lead atop the Spanish Liga was reduced to just two points on Saturday with a late 2-2 draw at defiant Sevilla. The late draw left Barca two points above second-placed Real Madrid, who beat Eibar 3-0 earlier in the day. Real, in turn, are seven points above third-placed Atletico Madrid—their rivals in the Champions league—after Atletico could only get a 2-2 draw at Malaga. Barca stormed into a 2-0 lead at Sevilla with early goals from Lionel Messi and Neymar, only for Sevilla to hit back with strikes from Ever Banega and supersub Kevin Gameiro.  Messi gave Barca the lead in the 14th minute with yet another of his classy left-foot drives, then Neymar increased the Catalans’ lead with an inch-perfcet free-kick. However, Banega reduced arrears for Sevilla with a powerful drive which Barca goalkeeper Claudio Bravo made a mess of. Barca missed good chances to kill off the match in the second half, and Gameiro made it 2-2 six minutes from time by turning in a centre from Aleix Vidal. “We were very good in the first half and should really have settled the match then,” Barca coach Luis Enrique said. “In the second half we paid heavily for our mistakes... But we are still on top, and we have confidence in ourselves.” His Sevilla counterpart, Unai Emery, said: “Pulling it back to 2-1 just before half-time was important...Today we deserved to draw at least, with all the effort that we made.” Earlier Saturday, Real had few problems in beating lowly Eibar 3-0. Real coach Carlo Ancelotti fielded several reserves because of suspensions, but also with his mind on tomorrow’s Champions League clash against neighbours Atletico. The 2014 world player Cristiano Ronaldo gave Los Merengues the lead in the 21st minute with his first free-kick goal in almost a year, taking his tally in La Liga to a remarkable 39. Javier Hernandez, one of the many reserves fielded by coach Carlo Ancelotti, quickly made it 2-0 by heading in a centre from veteran defender Alvaro Arbeloa. Eibar, who are just above the danger zone, never looked capable of saving the match, and Jese, also making a rare start, completed the scoring seven minutes from time with a handsome solo goal. “We should be pleased with this result, given the absences we had today. We knew we had to win today, in order to stay close to Barca,” Arbeloa said. Looking at the tie against Atletico—who have beaten Real four times this season after Real beat them in the last Champions League final—the veteran defender said: “We have a lot of hope and motivation. We have not been able to beat them this season, but we think we understand what mistakes we have made against them.” Real director Emilio Butragueno said: “We are recovering our form of 2014. We have won our three matches this week, and are well prepared for what is around the corner.” Real are seven points above third-placed Atletico, who were lucky to escape from Malaga with a 2-2 draw, thanks to a brace from Antoine Griezmann. Later on Saturday, Almeria moved above the relegation zone by beating troubled Granada 2-0, and Celta Vigo caned Rayo Vallecano 6-1 in a midtable clash—with promising teenager Santi Mina banging in four goals.