La Liga : Barcelona draws with Deportivo

Messi-06Barcelona , December 12 : Barcelona ‘s 11 games winning streak has come to an when they conceded two late goals to draw with Deportivo La Coruna 2-2 at home on Saturday. Lionel Messi opened the scoring with a curling free kick before half-time. Ivan Rakitic then doubles the lead with a powerful strike. Then Deportivo striker Lucas Perez scored, and set up the equalizer by Alex Bergantinos after a late counterattack to shock the crowd at the Camp Nou.The Argentine curled the ball into the top corner from 25 metres to give the lead to the catalans.This was Messi’s fifty goal this season including international and club appearance . Midfielder Ivan Rakitic then fired a shot almost from the similar distance at the 62nd minutes.The result extended Barcelona’s winless streak to three matches. It is the second consecutive draw for Barca who now lead the table with 35 points from 15 games while Deportivo are in sixth position on 23 points. Now  Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid – which play their games on Sunday – have a massive advantage in their hands. Barcelona have a three-point lead over Atletico Madrid, which plays Athletic Bilbao. Real Madrid, which plays at fifth-place Villarreal, was five points behind Barcelona. Deportivo who have been a surprise element in this season are unbeaten in six games and with only one away defeat.

“We had everything under control until the 30-minute mark of the second half,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said. “Deportivo had a brave strategy, and it worked out for them. It isn’t the result that we deserved but it shows that we have to be plugged in for all 90 minutes.”

It was Barcelona’s last game before they travel  to Japan for the Club World Cup. Its semifinal will be on Thursday against either America of Mexico or Guangzhou Evergrande of China. Barcelona is chasing its third club world title. Neymar wasa  the only notable absence  because of a groin injury that is also likely to keep him

sidelined at the Club World Cup. Neymar has six of Barcelona’s last 14 league goals, and remains the competition top-scorer with 14. Barcelona dominated from the start but the Deportivo defence was rock solid. Messi broke the deadlock with a delightful  free kick to break the resistance of Deportivo. Lux stretched his left

arm but could not get close to the ball as it curled over the wall and into the top corner.Luis Suarez was fouled  just outside the area. Suarez earlier had a goal disallowed for offside in the second half.Messi set up Rakitic with a quick pass at the top of the area, but Deportivo found a way to get back into the game after Barcelona squandered good chances, especially through Suarez and substitute Munir El Haddadi.