Barça's title charge based on nine comebacks in LaLiga
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There is a simple reason that Barcelona are the champions-elect in this season’s Liga title race, one that appears to have been run already after Ernesto Valverde’s side maintained their unbeaten record in the Sánchez Pizjuán on Saturday evening.
The 2-2 draw against Sevilla, secured in the 88th and 89th minutes through Luis Suárez and Leo Messi, was the ninth occasion this season that Barça have come from behind to stave off defeat.
The first time Valverde’s side faced a deficit was against Getafe in week four, when Gaku Shibasaki put the home side ahead and Barça struggled to break down a well-organised side. Paulinho and Denis Suárez eventually secured three points for the visitors and kick-started a season that had begun in less-than convincing style with the Spanish Super Cup defeat to Real Madrid and less-than-inspiring wins over Alavés and Betis.
In weeks eight and 13 Barcelona also fell behind against top-four opposition in Mestalla and the Metropolitano but were able to recover after Saúl had put Atlético ahead and Rodrigo did the same for Marcelino’s side. Suárez and Jordi Alba, against his former club, rescued two valuable and morale-boosting points.
Barça snap Anoeta curse
Iago Aspas put Celta ahead in Camp Nou but Barça recovered to carve out a 2-2 draw but the real slap of the fist on the table cane in Anoeta, a stadium where Barça had failed to win since 2007 and had been beaten on five of their previous seven visits. That incredible La Real streak looked set to continue when Willian José and Juanmi chalked up a 2-0 lead for the home side but Paulinho, Suárez (2) and Messi turned the game around.
The Argentinean came to the rescue again in week 21 when he cancelled out John Guidetti’s opener for Alavés, who has shocked the champions the previous season, and Valverde’s side were tested again a week later in the RCDE. Gerard Moreno struck first for Espanyol and it was left to Gerard Piqué to salvage a point in the 82nd minute.
Girona also went ahead in Camp Nou through Portu but eventually crumbled to a 6-1 drubbing.
Leganés last step before Liga unbeaten record is matched
The comeback against Sevilla was Barça’s ninth of the season and the reason they will soon be crowned Liga champions, barring an improbably collapse in the final weeks. They may also go the entire season unbeaten for the first time in Liga history. If Valverde’s side win or draw against Leganés next weekend, they will equal Real Sociedad’s record of 38 consecutive games without defeat, set over two seasons between 29 April 1979 and 4 May 1980.