Barca title hopes in tatters after Getafe draw

Barcelona's slim hopes of retaining their La Liga title were all butended after they were held 2-2 at home by struggling Getafe on Saturday.The Catalans now trail leaders Atletico Madrid by three points with just two gamesremaining and having played a game more, whilst Real Madrid are just three pointsfurther back but with two games in hand over Barca.Lionel Messi opened the scoring with a fine finish, but Barca were pegged pack when Angel Lafita levelled just before half-time.The Spanish champions improved going forward after the break and deservedlywent back in front when Alexis Sanchez drilled the ball home 23 minutes from time,but they were stunned in injury time as Lafita rose to head home Jaime Gavilan'scross to secure a vital point for Getafe."We have committed errors that are unbecoming of the professionals we are," Barcamidfielder Sergio Busquets told Canal Plus."There are two games remaining and we will try to play them with honour becausethe league is practically lost. We hope that next season will be different."A video tribute was played along with a minute's silence to mark the death offormer Barca coach Tito Vilanova before kick-off in the Catalans' first home gamesince he passed away at the age of 45 on April 25.Possibly affected by that emotional start to the game, the hosts began slowly butwent in front with their first clear opening on 23 minutes when Messi swept homeDani Alves's low cross to register his 41st goal of the season.Pedro Rodriguez should then have made it 2-0 when he raced onto a wonderfulthrough ball from Messi, but Getafe keeper Julio Cesar did well to narrow the angleand turn the Spanish international's effort behind.Instead, Getafe were level in controversial circumstances eight minutes before half-time when Lafita controlled Pablo Sarabia's looping free-kick before firing low intothe far corner.The goal was initially ruled out by the assistant referee for an infringement byLafita, but referee Jose Antonio Teixeira Vitienes overruled his colleague andallowed the goal to stand.Barca could still have been back in front before half-time had Sanchez chosen to shoot rather than square the ball to Messi when well-placed inside the area.However, Gerardo Martino's men upped the tempo of their game at the start of thesecond period and Cesar did well to parry a thunderous volley from Messi threeminutes after the restart.Sanchez then struck the bar as the ball looped up off the Chilean's chest before Pedro forced another good save from Cesar.Barca did finally go back in front midway through the second-half as substitute CescFabregas had an instant impact when his low cross fell perfectly for Sanchez to riflehome his 20th goal of the season.The home side should have added to their lead in the closing stages as Alvessomehow headed wide Messi's pinpoint cross from close range before the Argentinewas at fault himself when his attempted lob over Cesar dropped onto the roof of thenet.They were nearly made to pay nine minutes from time when a slick Getafe counter-attack ended with Sarabia's fierce volley being brilliantly held on the line by JoseManuel Pinto.However, there was nothing the keeper could do to prevent Lafita powering homehis second of the afternoon in stoppage time to move Getafe three points clear ofthe relegation zone. Source: AFP