Deportivo La Coruna came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Barcelona and earn the point that keeps them in La Liga on a dramatic final day of the season at Camp Nou.
Lionel Messi's double, coupled with Eibar's 3-0 win over Cordoba, had looked like condemning Victor Sanchez's men to life in the Segunda Division next term.
© Getty Images
However, the visitors hit back through Lucas Perez and Diogo Salomao in the final 25 minutes to seal a point and preserve their top-flight status due to a superior head-to-head record over Eibar.
Only six minutes elapsed before the newly-crowned La Liga champions moved ahead on their coronation, having wrapped up the title with a 1-0 win at Atletico Madrid last weekend.
Rafinha justified his inclusion in the first XI by clipping a wonderful cross for Lionel Messi to nod a rare header past Fabricio.
The Catalans were celebrating again shortly after, but Messi's second was ruled out for offside in a setback that did little to dampen the hosts' spirit.
Rafinha justified his inclusion in the first XI by clipping a wonderful cross for Messi to nod past Fabricio with a rare header.
The Catalans were celebrating again shortly after, but the Argentine's second was ruled out for offside in a setback that did little to dampen their spirit.
The relentless attacking continued and Deportivo have Fabricio to thank for keeping them in the game, as the Spaniard denied Messi and then Pedro from the rebound as the visitors survived without further damage before the break.
With finals in the Copa del Rey and Champions League on the horizon, Barca's tempo dropped considerably as Luis Enrique's side slowed down in their approach.
However, Messi seemed to consign Deportivo to the drop on 59 minutes, tapping home from close range after Neymar's unselfish pass.
© Getty Images
Perez threw Deportivo the slimmest of lifelines by swivelling on the edge of the area and placing a fine effort beyond the reach of league debutant Jordi Masip on 67 minutes.
Haris Medunjanin came within millimetres of grabbing the point needed to retain his side's Liga status, but his effort rattled off the crossbar.
Their patience paid off, however, when Salomao hammered into the far corner past Masip, after Medunjanin's free kick was blocked, to bring the Turks back from the dead and keep them in the division.
Shane Callaghan
