Barcelona squander two-goal lead at Villarreal in 2-2 draw

Barcelona squandered the chance to go 11 points clear in La Liga on Sunday after blowing a two-goal lead in the space of six minutes in a 2-2 draw at Villarreal that was overshadowed by a controversial penalty.

A 62nd minute own goal by Barcelona substitute Jeremy Mathieu, who turned a corner into his own net, ended Barca's hopes of a 13th successive La Liga win after Villarreal striker Cedric Bakambu reduced the deficit.

Ivan Rakitic gave Barca the lead after 20 minutes from close range and Neymar made it 2-0 in the 41st with a chipped penalty as goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo, who looked to have touched the ball before felling Neymar in the box, went the wrong way.

Barca now have 76 points, nine ahead of nearest challengers Atletico Madrid, who suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at Sporting Gijon on Saturday.

Real Madrid were playing at home to Sevilla in Sunday's late match and are third, 13 points off the pace, with a game in hand. Villarreal are fourth on 54 points.

“It’s a positive day for us as we’re one point closer to our objective,” Barca coach Luis Enrique told a news conference. “Every point we gain on our rivals is fantastic.”

Villarreal had coach Marcelino dismissed from the dugout just after Rakitic’s goal when he protested at the referee’s decision not to give a second yellow card to Barcelona defender Gerard Pique following a handball.

Barca coach Luis Enrique brought on Mathieu to replace Pique early in the second half.

Rakitic's goal came from Barcelona's first shot on target, the ball dropping at his feet as Villarreal struggled to clear a Lionel Messi free-kick, the Croatian stabbing home first time.

Referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez’s decision not to book Pique for the handball was controversial and he further enraged the home supporters before the break when he awarded the penalty.

Asenjo reached out a hand to prevent Neymar from getting to the ball first, appearing to touch it before sending the Brazilian over.

“A goalkeeper always knows when he has given away a penalty, but that was not a penalty, I touched the ball with my right hand,” Asenjo told Spanish television network Movistar.

Both teams squandered other chances to score, Asenjo tipping away a driving shot from Neymar and Claudio Bravo denying Samu Castillejo.

Celta Vigo moved into the top six after beating Valencia 2-0 thanks to late goals from John Guidetti and Hugo Mallo.

The home fans turned their fire on coach Gary Neville, chanting "Gary go now" after a third consecutive league defeat which leaves the club 14th in La Liga, six points above the relegation zone.

The Galicians capitalised on Athletic Bilbao’s 2-1 defeat at Espanyol earlier in the day to move ahead of the Basques, who drop down to seventh.

Javier Eraso’s first half goal had put Ernesto Valverde’s men in charge, but quick strikes from Pape Diop and substitute Felipe Caicedo in the second period turned the game in Espanyol's favour.

They moved up to 12th place, seven points above the relegation zone.