Barcelona will have to wait until at least next weekend before sealing the La Liga title as Ander Herrera's 89th minute equaliser rescued a 2-2 draw for Athletic Bilbao at San Mames. The Basques had the better of the opening period and went in front on 27 minutes when Aritz Aduriz turned Gerard Pique and his driven cross was forced home at the back post by Markel Susaeta.
However, the game was completely turned around by the introduction of Lionel Messi just before the hour mark as he equalised 10 minutes later with a wonderful solo run past three Athletic players before planting the ball in the bottom corner Messi was also involved as Barca went in front moments later as he knocked Dani Alves cross into Alexis Sanchez's path to slot past Gorka Iraizoz.
However, Ander's late intervention means Barca will have to wait to mathematically seal the title even if Atletico Madrid beat second-placed Real Madrid later on Saturday evening. Barca boss Tito Vilanova had surprisingly made just the four changes after Tuesday's 4-0 mauling at the hands of Bayern Munich, but with Messi still suffering from the after-effects of a hamstring injury picked up against Paris Saint-Germain a month ago, he started alongside Andres Iniesta on the bench.
Despite his absence Barca started brightly and were unlucky not to be in front on 16 minutes when Sanchez latched onto Cesc Fabregas's pass and saw his shot from the edge of the area come crashing off the post. Alex Song then also tested Iraizoz and Xavi curled a shot wide, but Athletic started to take a hold of the game midway through the period and went in front just before the half hour. Aduriz showed Pique a clean set of heels on the left side of the box and his driven cross was rattled in from barely a yard by Susaeta.
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