Barcelona draw at Real Betis after conceding late equaliser

LaLiga leaders Barcelona had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Real Betis after substitute Assane Diao scored a stoppage-time equaliser on Saturday to give Manuel Pellegrini cause to celebrate in his 500th LaLiga game as a manager.

The visitors, holding a provisional five-point lead at the top, took the lead in the 39th minute with a superb move initiated by Lamine Yamal and finished clinically by Robert Lewandowski for his 16th league goal.

Real Betis responded strongly after halftime, and Giovani Lo Celso equalized with a well-taken penalty. However, Yamal’s creativity shone again, delivering a perfectly disguised pass to substitute Ferran Torres, who restored Barcelona’s lead in the 82nd minute.

Despite their dominance, Barcelona couldn’t secure all three points. In dramatic fashion, Diao’s exquisite 94th-minute backheel flick salvaged a draw for Betis at the Benito Villamarin Stadium.

Barcelona now sits on 38 points, maintaining their top position ahead of Real Madrid, who have two games in hand. This thrilling encounter underlined the competitive nature of La Liga as both sides showcased moments of brilliance.