Barcelona: Borja Oubina headed a late equaliser as Celta Vigo held leaders Barcelona to a 2-2 draw in La Liga on Saturday, after Lionel Messi had passed another scoring milestone by netting in his 19th consecutive league match.
The World Player of the Year set up an equaliser for Cristian Tello just before halftime and the winger returned the favour in the 73rd for Messi to complete a run of scoring against every team in La Liga consecutively. Oubina struck in the 88th minute for a draw as a weakened Barca side were left on 72 points with nine games left to play, 14 ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, who were playing at Real Zaragoza later.
Barcelona clearly had their minds on Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg away to Paris St Germain as they fielded a side shorn of a number of regulars. Carles Puyol, Jordi Alba and Xavi were among the injured absentees, while Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and David Villa were on the bench, and they put in a disjointed first-half performance.
Celta were without suspended top scorer Iago Aspas but looked dangerous from set pieces and on the break, and took the lead when Nacho Insa slid in to steer Park Chu-young's pass inside the near post in the 38th minute. Barca reacted swiftly with Javi Varas pushing a Messi free kick around the post, but he could do little in the 43rd when the Argentine's ball over the top sent Tello scampering free and he fired in off the post.
The visitors dominated the second period, when Iniesta and Villa were thrown into the fray, and Tello, a constant threat down the left, crossed low into the area for Messi to fire first time into the corner. Oubina was left unmarked at the back post to head the equaliser, lifting Celta to 18th place with 24 points.
Earlier, Chile midfielder Pedro Morales scored one and set up two more as Malaga ran out 3-1 winners at Rayo Vallecano to climb to fifth. Morales sealed the victory with a rasping long-range shot four minutes from time after having provided crosses for Weligton and Julio Baptista to head goals earlier in the game.
After a run of four games without a win in La Liga, it was a lift for the Champions League debutants, who host Borussia Dortmund in a quarter-final first leg next Wednesday. Malaga moved on to 47 points, the same as fourth-placed Real Sociedad, who visit Espanyol on Sunday. Rayo are ninth with 41 points.
The visitors took the lead when Weligton was left unmarked to head in a Morales free kick after 22 minutes but Rayo were soon level when goalkeeper Willy Caballero was harshly ruled to have tripped Tito in the area. Rayo captain Piti stepped up and scored from the spot, his 12th strike of the campaign.
Malaga restored their advantage in the 55th when Baptista leapt to meet a Morales corner and power a header inside the far post for his first goal of the season. Substitute Roque Santa Cruz volleyed wide from another Morales free kick but the Chilean made sure of the points with a 25-metre drive near the end.
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