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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.

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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.

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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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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97


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