Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez led Barcelona to a stunning comeback against Villarreal on Tuesday and may have ensured there will be no return for Atletico Madrid in La Liga ’s title race.
Atletico plays Barca at the Camp Nou on Saturday and was given fresh hope of a resurgence when struggling Villarreal, inspired by the brilliant Santi Cazorla, led the Catalans 4-2 going into the final minute.
But Messi, who had started on the bench, drove in a free-kick in the 90th and in the 93rd, Suarez fired in a devastating half-volley to earn Barca a 4-4 draw and an unlikely point.
Cazorla, meanwhile, sank to his knees, a chance spurned for Villarreal to pull four points clear of the relegation zone. It had come from two down, as Samuel Chukwueze and Karl Toko Ekambi cancelled out early goals from Philippe Coutinho and Malcom. Vicente Iborra and Carlos Bacca looked to have sealed an incredible win, only for Messi and Suarez to intervene.
The pair have now scored 51 goals between them in the league this season, just one shy of the total managed by Real Madrid.
No margin
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted Manchester United has no further margin for error in its bid to secure a top-four finish after a damaging 2-1 defeat against Wolves on Tuesday.
Ashley Young’s needless dismissal and Chris Smalling’s farcical own goal were the low points of a disappointing evening for Solskjaer’s side at Molineux.
United had been set a target of 15 points from its remaining seven games by the manager before its visit to Molineux.
That total is now 15 from six matches, with games to come against both Manchester City and Chelsea at Old Trafford, a target which Solskjaer admits leaves no room for mistakes.
Fulham relegated
Fulham was relegated from the Premier League as a 4-1 thrashing against Watford on Tuesday brought a fitting end to its turbulent one-season stay in the top flight.
Scott Parker’s side had to avoid defeat at Vicarage Road to stave off its inevitable demise for a few more days.
But second-bottom Fulham, 16 points from safety with five games remaining, slumped to a ninth successive loss that confirmed its relegation to the Championship.
Kean faces racist abuse
Rising Italy star Moise Kean was targeted by racist abuse after he scored for Juventus on Tuesday — but teammate Leonardo Bonucci blamed him for inciting the crowd at Cagliari.
Goals from 19-year-old Kean and Bonucci gave Juve a 2-0 victory over Cagliari that took it closer to an eighth consecutive Serie A title.
Kean slotted in his fourth goal in as many league games in the 85th minute after Bonucci nodded in the opener on 22 minutes in Sardinia.
The youngster’s celebration after scoring, however, infuriated the home crowd who had jeered the teenager throughout after he was booked for diving in the first half.
Kean, along with his French teammate Blaise Matuidi and Brazilian Alex Sandro, were targeted by monkey noises throughout the match, but they increased in intensity after the second goal.
The results: La Liga: Atletico Madrid 2 (Godin 76, Griezmann 90+4) bt Girona 0; Espanyol 1 (Iglesias 56) drew with Getafe 1 (Angel 72); Villarreal 4 (Chukwueze 23, Toko Ekambi 50, Iborra 62, Bacca 80) drew with Barcelona 4 (Coutinho 12, Malcom 16, Messi 90, Suarez 90+3).
Premier League: Watford 4 (Doucoure 23, Hughes 63, Deeney 69, Femenia 75) bt Fulham 1 (Babel 33); Wolves 2 (Jota 25, Smalling 77-og) bt Manchester United 1 (McTominay 13).
Serie A: AC Milan 1 (Piatek 44) drew with Udinese 1 (Lasagna 65); Cagliari 0 lost to Juventus 2 (Bonucci 22, Kean 85).
