Barcelona salvaged a point from their trip to Mestalla with a Lionel Messi equaliser as the defending champions extended their winless run to four matches in the La Liga. Sevilla find themselves to be the surprise leaders at the end of this week’s fixtures with a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo on Sunday.
The top three are now separated by a solitary point-with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona on 15 points each. Diego Simeone’s side scraped through to a 1-0 win over Real Betis thanks to a 74th-minute strike from substitute Angel Correa as they move last city rivals Real Madrid, into the top three.
Barcelona conceded a very early lead as- early as in the second minute of the match when Argentine defender scored one from close range from a corner which was defended poorly by Ernesto Valverde’s men.
“This season it feels like we have to come back in every game and we are swimming against the current but we know that this is going to change,” said Valverde, as quoted by Reuters.
“You always want to win and when you don’t you leave with the sensation that you have dropped two points but you have to recognise that Valencia did a very good job defensively.”
Midfielder Pablo Sarabia scored for Sevilla to give them the lead before the break and Wissam Ben Yedder’s strike in the 61st minute- which had to be referred to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) before being awarded-gave them a two-goal lead. Although Sofiane Boufal’s 85th-minute strike reduced the deficit, it wasn’t enough for the visitors to clinch three points.
Sevilla gaffer Pablo Machin who achieved the top spot in the La Liga for the first time in his career said that he wants the league to end right now!
“I would like the season to end right now,” he said.
Image credit- Depor