
VILA-REAL (REUTERS) - Barcelona's Lionel Messi came off the bench to help the Liga leaders battle back from 4-2 down in stoppage time to snatch a remarkable 4-4 draw at struggling Villarreal on Tuesday (April 2).
The Catalans avoided a first league loss since November with a last-gasp Luis Suarez strike after captain and top scorer Messi gave them hope with a deadly free kick in the 90th minute.
The draw resulted in Barca's lead over nearest challengers Atletico Madrid, who had earlier won 2-0 at home to lowly Girona, being trimmed to eight points ahead of Saturday's top-of-the-table showdown at the Nou Camp.
Even without Messi, Gerard Pique and Ivan Rakitic in their starting lineup, the visitors still strolled into the lead through a Philippe Coutinho goal in the 12th minute, which Brazilian forward Malcom soon doubled with a header.
But Villarreal, who began the game hovering one point above the relegation zone, hauled themselves into contention with a strike from 19-year-old Samuel Chukwueze midway through the first half.
Cameroon striker Karl Toko Ekambi took advantage of slack positioning from Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to equalise soon after the interval and Vicente Iborra completed the home side's remarkable revival just after the hour mark.
Messi was called from the bench to rescue the champions but instead Villarreal increased their lead with a strike from their substitute Carlos Bacca.
Alvaro Gonzalez was then dismissed for Villarreal for a second booking with four minutes remaining, paving the way for Messi and Suarez to strike for Barca and produce a remarkable finish to an enthralling contest.

Nathan Ake Strikes Late To Sink Nine-Man Tottenham Hotspur Updated: 04 May 2019 19:54 IST Nathan Ake's last-gasp winner condemned Spurs to a 1-0 Premier League defeat at Bournemouth.
Ake strikes late to sink nine-man Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham's Kane has been ready to play for 10 days - Pochettino "Harry Kane is one of the best strikers in the world and of course for a team like us it's a massive impact to have him
Tottenham's Kane has been ready to play for 10 days - Pochettino
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"I hope he will be a massive boost for us," Pochettino told a news conference. "Harry Kane is one of the best strikers in the world and of course for a team like us it's a massive impact to have him available. I'm so happy to have all the players, but we can't hide that he's one of the best strikers in the world." Editor's Picks
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Inter Milan have been given a two-match stadium ban following the racist abuse Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly received on Wednesday from fans at the San Siro. On Thursday, the FIGC―Italy's football
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Jahanbakhsh on target as Iran ease past Oman into last eight January 20, 2019 - by admin ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Three-times champions Iran came through an early scare before marching confidently into the Asian Cup quarter-finals for the 13th time in 14 attempts with a 2-0 victory over a spirited Oman team on Sunday.

Rodgers closing in on EPL return with Leicester, Football

Tampines Rovers FC started the 2016 RHB Singapore Cup with a double win playing Global in the quarterfinals. Global had an unbeaten score in the whole of 2016 season. The Stags will face their AFC Cup rivals Ceres from their group stage were they draw and lost a match and let them finish 1st in the AFC Cup 2016 group E. 2017 season

BURNLEY, England (REUTERS) - Crystal Palace moved further away from the Premier League relegation zone with a 3-1 win at fellow strugglers Burnley on Saturday (March 2) thanks to second half goals
Football news - Palace climb away from troube with 3-1 win at

Unai Emery urges Arsenal to focus on Valencia clash The 10-man Gunners slipped to a third straight defeat after the dominant Foxes ran out 3-0 winners. During Jose Mourinho's time in
Unai Emery urges Arsenal to focus on Valencia clash

Neymar (centre) has scored 50 goals for PSG. (Reuters pic) PARIS: Edinson Cavani missed a stoppage-time penalty as Paris St Germain continued their stuttering end to the season with a 1-1 Ligue 1
Neymar hits half-century mark as PSG are held by Nice
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Your Best Football News Source Neymar hits half-century mark as PSG are held by Nice. May 7, 2019 by admin 0 Comments. Clubs, French Ligue 1, Nice, Paris Saint
Neymar hits half-century as PSG are held by Nice - Reuters

City and Liverpool leave chasing pack facing tough summer. By Reuters 16:53 12 May 2019 , updated 16 Tottenham's late-season Premier League collapse saw them go from outside title contenders
Soccer-City and Liverpool leave chasing pack facing tough

Jürgen Klopp accepts Liverpool face a 'big challenge' as they attempt to overturn a three-goal first-leg deficit against FC Barcelona tonight - but insisted his side are not finished in the tie. Despite a strong display, the Reds suffered a 3-0 reversal in last week's first meeting at Camp
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