Samuel Eto’o scored twice as leaders Barcelona came from two goals down to preserve their 22-match unbeaten league run with a 2-2 draw at Real Betis on Saturday.
Juan Melli and former Liverpool man Mark Gonzalez put Betis into a 2-0 lead after just 25 minutes as Barcelona looked set for their first defeat since the opening day of the season.
Eto’o pulled a goal back close to halftime and then equalized six minutes from the end for his 23rd goal of the season, but Barcelona’s run of 10 straight league wins still came to an end.
PHOTO: AP
“A point isn’t bad and I can’t fault the players for their effort,” Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said. “We dominated the game and had lots of chances to win it, but Betis are a good side and they defended well. After so many consecutive victories it is normal that we eventually slip up and it happened here [in Seville].”
Barcelona had a number of stars in action on international duty during the week and Guardiola rested forwards Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry, while captain Carles Puyol was missing through injury.
Barcelona had a nightmare start with Betis scoring twice inside seven minutes.
Melli found the target on 18 minutes with a fine header, before Gonzalez struck for the hosts on 25 minutes after the visitors failed to deal with Sergio Garcia’s cross.
Trailing 2-0 Barcelona got a break seconds before the break when Andres Iniesta used his quick feet to win a penalty, although contact was minimal.
Eto’o stepped up and his weak spot-kick was saved by Ricardo, but the ball fell back into his path and he reacted sharply to prod home the rebound. Barcelona’s unbeaten league run — stretching back to the opening day of the season — was under threat.
Betis, who won at rivals Sevilla for the first time in 13 years last weekend, thought they had made it 3-1, but a 48th-minute strike was ruled out for offside.
A minute later Eto’o should have equalized. The Cameroon forward lost his marker with a great turn, but shot wide with the whole goal to aim at.
Eto’o made amends late on though with the leveler to salvage a point.
Elsewhere, Deportivo La Coruna and Osasuna played out a scoreless draw at the Riazor Stadium.
Valencia, beaten by Osasuna last weekend, climbed to third above Sevilla on goal difference following a 1-1 draw with Malaga at the Mestalla Stadium.
David Villa put the hosts ahead after 53 minutes. Villa made history on Wednesday by becoming the first Spanish player to score in six successive internationals following his goal in Spain’s 2-0 friendly victory over England and he produced another masterclass finish, curling the ball into the top corner.
Malaga equalized six minutes later when Raul Albiol put a cross into his own goal.
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