Two goals in the final 13 minutes saw Deportivo La Coruna come from behind to stun La Liga leaders Barcelona in a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou.
Deportivo were the last side to deny the champions a home league win on the final day of last season and they kept the hosts frustrated early on before Lionel Messi’s brilliant free-kick broke the deadlock.
Jonathan Rodriguez spurned a couple of half-chances on the break, but Barca’s second goal looked inevitable, even after Luis Suarez’s finish after the interval was ruled out for a marginal offside.
Ivan Rakitic duly doubled the lead with a ferocious strike just past the hour mark as Barca began to cruise to what seemed an ultimately straightforward victory.
But Deportivo, who have lost just once away from home so far this season, grabbed a lifeline through top scorer Lucas Perez in the 77th minute and he set up Alex Bergantinos to rifle in an equaliser with just four minutes to play.
Atletico Madrid and rivals Real will now hope to capitalise on Barca’s slip-up when they take on Athletic Bilbao and Villarreal respectively on Sunday.
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