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European roundup: Lionel Messi scores 700th goal but Barcelona draw again

European roundup: Lionel Messi scores 700th goal but Barcelona draw again
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Messi scored in a 2-2 draw with Atletico which left the Catalan giants a point behind Real Madrid.

Lionel Messi scored his 700th career goal but Barcelona's title hopes suffered a huge blow against Atletico Madrid.

The forward netted a cheeky second-half penalty but Barca could only draw 2-2 at the Nou Camp on Tuesday after two Saul Niguez spot kicks twice pegged them back.

Messi has taken 862 appearances to reach the milestone but Barca missed the chance to return to the top of LaLiga and now trail Real Madrid by a point having played a game more.

Barca opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Diego Costa accidentally sliced Messi's corner past Jan Oblak from close range.

Costa's nightmare opening was just beginning when five minutes later he missed a penalty – only to be reprieved by Saul.

The striker's initial spot kick – after Arturo Vidal fouled Yannick Carrasco –  was saved by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen only for VAR to rule the goalkeeper was off his line.

Saul stepped up to level from the retaken penalty and spare Costa's blushes.

Messi hit the post after 22 minutes but did add a second after 50 minutes when Felipe tripped Nelson Semedo and the forward chipped his penalty down the middle.

But Saul ensured third placed Atletico claimed a point when he scored his second spot kick after 62 minutes after Carrasco went down.

Elsewhere, Oliver Torres' first-half brace cemented Sevilla's top four spot as they beat second-bottom Leganes 3-0.

The midfielder struck twice in 12 minutes to help Sevilla move five points clear of Getafe in fifth, having played a game more.

They closed the gap to Atletico to two points with Munir El Haddadi adding a late third.

Struggling Real Mallorca boosted their survival chances after hammering drop rivals Celta Vigo 5-1.

Alejandro Pozo, Juan Hernandez and Ante Budimir's penalty put the hosts 3-0 up at half time.

England v Spain – International Friendly – Wembley Stadium
Spain's Iago Aspas got a consolation for Celta. (Nick Potts/PA)

Iago Aspas' second-half spot kick pulled a goal back for Celta but Budimir made it 4-1 soon after and Salva Sevilla completed the rout.

Mallorca remain in the relegation zone but are now five points behind 17th placed Celta.

In Italy, Juventus maintained their four-point lead at the top of Serie A with a 3-1 victory at Genoa.

Paulo Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo scored quickfire second-half goals before Douglas Costa added a third to give the Old Lady a deserved win after Lazio put them under pressure. Andrea Pinamonti scored for Genoa.

Manchester United v Juventus – UEFA Champions League – Group H – Old Trafford
Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo netted in their win. (Martin Rickett/PA)

Lazio had earlier closed the gap on Juve to just a point after coming from behind to win 2-1 at Torino.

Andrea Belotti gave the mid-table hosts a first-half lead to give Lazio a scare.

Ciro Immobile's 30th Serie A goal of the season levelled just after the break and Marco Parolo struck to win it with 18 minutes left.

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Barcelona captain Lionel Messi pictured on June 19, 2020
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona18122450203038
2Atletico MadridAtletico17115131112038
3Real Madrid17114237162137
4Athletic Bilbao1896327161133
5Mallorca188371821-327
6Villarreal167542827126
7Real Sociedad177461611525
8Osasuna176742225-325
9Real BetisBetis176652021-124
10GironaGirona176472325-222
11Sevilla176471823-522
12Celta Vigo176382528-321
13Rayo Vallecano165561819-120
14Las PalmasLas Palmas175482227-519
15Leganes174671523-818
16Getafe173771114-316
17AlavesAlaves174491928-916
18Espanyol1642101528-1314
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia152491323-1010


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