MADRID: Barcelona’s five-game winning streak in the Spanish league ended with a 2-2 draw at Mallorca on Tuesday.
Barcelona twice came from behind to salvage the point. They had won five in a row after opening with a draw at Getafe. They also won in their Champions League debut against Antwerp last Tuesday.
The result left the Catalan club in danger of relinquishing the lead when the remaining midweek games are played. They lead Girona by one point and Real Madrid by two points. Girona visit Villarreal on Wednesday, while Madrid host promoted Las Palmas.
“We conceded two goals after defensive mistakes and we can’t allow that to happen,” Barcelona coach Xavi said. “It’s a shame, we lost two points because of these mistakes.”
Mallorca, who squandered a few good chances on counterattacks, have just one win so far and is sitting near the relegation zone with six points.
“It was a fair result, we are satisfied,” Mallorca’s Mexican coach Javier Aguirre said. “A victory would have been too much for us today.”
Mallorca were coming off a 5-3 loss at Girona.
The hosts opened the scoring through Vedat Muriqi in the eighth minute before Raphinha equalized in the 41st. Abdon Prats put Mallorca ahead again just before halftime, and Fermin López sealed the draw in the 75th with what was his first league goal for the Catalan club.
Barcelona had a penalty kick awarded in the 66th, but the decision was reversed by video review.
SEVILLA WIN AGAIN
Sevilla scored twice in the first 10 minutes and went on to rout Almeria 5-1 for their second league win of the season.
Youssef En-Nesyri scored in the seventh minute and Dodi Lukebakio in the eighth, then Suso added another in the 38th before Erik Lamela and Kike Salas closed the scoring in the second half.
It was the fifth loss for Almeria, who remain the only team yet to win a match.
Almeria next host Granada, while Sevilla visit Barcelona.
