Barcelona Drop to Second in La Liga with 2-2 Draw at Almeria

Barcelona could only manage a draw away to Almeria and dropped to second in La Liga following Real Madrid's victory at home to Sevilla.

Barcelona were left frustrated against an organised Almeria side and needed two goals from World Player of the Year Lionel Messi to rescue the points after twice going behind.

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola was sent to the stands after insisting his side should have been awarded a penalty for a foul on Messi.

Guardiola's appeal looked to be out of frustration more than anything else.

Dani Alves whipped the ball in from the right and Messi would have made better contact if he was just inches taller.

Almeria, who had never beaten Barcelona in nine previous attempts, took the lead after just 12 minutes.

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol needlessly gave away a corner and was beaten at the near post by Almeria defender Domingo Cisma who headed home.

Barcelona dominated possession but were guilty of squandering many chances to equalise.

Almeria were threatening on the counter attack and could have gone further ahead.

Left back Guilherme drew a save from Victor Valdes, who could only parry the ball in front of goal, but Puyol was there to clear the danger.

Barcelona managed to grab an equaliser just before half time.

Barcelona were awarded a soft free kick for a foul on Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Replays showed that there was no foul on the Swedish striker.

Messi beautiful lofted the resulting free kick into the back of the net from the edge of the area.

Barcelona continued to enjoy large spells of possession in the second half but went behind once more through Puyol's own goal.

Guilherme crossed from the left and Puyol, at full stretch and caught in two minds, could only divert the ball past the despairing Valdes.

Barcelona's problems worsened when Ibrahimovic was shown a red card on the hour.

The Swede aimed a kick at Cisma in the Almeria penalty area as Barcelona looked to reply straight away.

There appeared to be little contact but the intent was there.

Ten-man Barcelona managed to grab an equaliser through Messi once more.

Pedro Rodriguez's cross from the left was headed straight back across goal by Guilherme to the feet of Messi who fired into the back of the net for his 19th goal of the season.

Barcelona pushed for the winner in the final minutes; Messi coming close on a number of occasions but Diego Lopez denied him his hat trick.

Despite being down to ten men, Barcelona will be disappointed they failed to score a winner. They enjoyed a large amount of possession but could not get the all-important third goal.

Although Real Madrid go top of La Liga on goal difference, the head-to-head statistic will take precedence.

Barcelona currently have that advantage after they beat Real 1-0 earlier in the season.

The head-to-head ruling does not come into effect until the teams have played each other for the second time.

That will come at the Bernabeu on April 11 in a match that could prove decisive in where the league title ends up this season.