Malaga 2-0 Barcelona: Neymar sees red as title bid dented
Neymar was shown the red card after a booking for tying his laces and another for a foul
Barcelona were not given a penalty when Sergi Roberto was fouled in the area and it cost them
Everything went wrong. After Real Madrid slipped up against Atletico and drew at the Bernabeu, the title was back in Barcelona’s hands. Win the rest of their games, win the league. They threw it away within hours.
Neymar was sent off, Sandro Ramirez struck against the Blaugrana after they let him go last summer on a free transfer to Malaga, they didn’t get a clear penalty when Charles oafishly kicked Sergi Roberto in the area.
They had no Gerard Pique and no Ivan Rakitic, both suspended, while Luis Enrique decided to rest Andres Iniesta once again.
Barcelona started well enough, with a Jordi Alba pass sending Luis Suarez in on goal, but the Uruguayan hitman’s effort was well saved by Carlos Kameni, who came out quickly to deny him.
After the Madrid derby ended in a 1-1 draw Barcelona could have drawn level with Madrid on 72 points and slipped into first place on goal difference.
But they let Sandro Ramirez roam onto Juankar’s long ball, before firing past Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who should have come out to close down the forward’s angle.
Jeremy Mathieu was at fault too, seemingly trying to catch Sandro offside despite the forward starting his run in his own half.
Barcelona were flaccid and created few chances in the rest of the half or indeed the entire second period, with Suarez missing another good chance when he dummied instead of shooting himself.
Neymar, who was foolishly booked in the first half for tying his laces in front of a Malaga player trying to take a free-kick, saw red when he fouled Diego Llorente.
And then Jony added the second after excellent work by Pablo Fornals, leaving Barcelona with the feeling of having missed a huge opportunity.
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