Barca Pay The Penalties

With Barcelona two points behind Real Madrid in the hotly-contested chase for La Liga; they faced just about the toughest opponent they could find: Diego Simeone & Atletico Madrid. And the visitors proved all that they asked for; putting up a typically resistant display to come from behind twice to seal a valuable 2-2 away draw at the Nou Camp Stadium - behind two penalties from their reliable midfielder Saul Niguez.

Under-fire manager Quique Setien surprisingly opted for a 4-4-2 diamond formation in this one; and it generally worked by overpowering the 2-man Atletico midfield. However; it did lead to problems on the flanks; especially defensively with Angel Correa & Yannick Carraso putting in good shifts on the night.

After Diego Costa unluckily put through his own goal from Lionel Messi's corner; Atletico were given a penalty when the elusive Carrasco turned sharply in the box to be brought down by Arturo Vidal. Even though Costa missed the first penalty; Marc-Andre ter Stegen was deemed to have moved off his line; leading to the second penalty tucked away by Saul.

In the second half; Barca got a penalty of their own; when Nelson Semedo was brought down by a rash challenge from Felipe. Up stepped Messi to coolly 'panenka' his 700th ever career goal. Barcelona looked to have things under control; but just about 12 minutes later; they were undone again by yet another penalty; with Man Of The Match Carrasco winning another penalty after being brought down by Semedo. Saul kept his nerve to squeeze the penalty past ter Stegen; and both sides had to be content with a point.