SPAIN: Barcelona battled back from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Granada on Sunday, but the team lost ground in the fight for the La Liga championship. However, Lamine Yamal and Sergi Roberto’s goals kept the champions’ status as the only unbeaten team in La Liga intact. Bryan Zaragoza had given the hosts a 2-0 lead.
The Catalans are now third, one point behind rivals Girona and three points behind Real Madrid, who are currently in first place, who both won on Saturday. The fastest goal Barcelona has given up in the twenty-first century was conceded against Zaragoza, which scored twice in the first half to break the score after just 17 seconds.
Barcelona’s Yamal, at 16 years and 87 days old, set a record for the league’s youngest goal scorer. The Xavi Hernandez team tied the score with Sergi Roberto’s goal but failed to secure the victory. It was their third comeback in recent weeks; the others being their 2-2 draws against Mallorca and Celta Vigo, which they overcame after falling behind twice.
Barcelona’s match was marred by Jules Kounde’s knee injury, causing a tense situation. Fermin Lopez started in midfield, while Ferran Torres replaced Lewandowski. Ilkay Gundogan and Gavi played equally in the defensive midfield position while Oriol Romeu was benched.
Barcelona faced Granada, who took the ball away from Zaragoza during the first goal. Marc-Andre ter Stegen could have saved the shot, but Zaragoza scored a brilliant individual goal at Nuevo Los Carmenes, extending the home team’s lead.
Yamal scored a goal via Felix in the first half to give Barcelona hope for a comeback, but Sergi Roberto converted a low cross from Alejandro Balde, despite Granada’s protests over a foul to draw the game fair and square.
Zaragoza nearly scored a hat-trick but missed a shot off the post. Xavi praised Felix for the winning goal, but Ferran Torres was ruled offside despite not touching the ball. Xavi argued Ferran was not interfering.
Coach Paco Lopez of Granada expressed pride in his team and wished winger Zaragoza would remain grounded. With two points to spare, Granada remains in 19th place.
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