RIVAL WATCH: Still top, still unbeaten; Sporting Lisbon win ahead of Camp Nou visit

The neutrals will be saying that Saturday’s 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou will have brought some interest back to La Liga. But the our point of view is not a neutral one, and the result was certainly an inconvenient setback.

On a more positive note, the blaugrana are still unbeaten in the competition, and no matter what the outcome against Celta, they were always guaranteed at least one more week at the top of the table.

Second placed Valencia visit Getafe at 4.15pm CET on Sunday, and a win would still leave them two points adrift of the Catalan frontrunners.

Champions League rivals win

Sporting Lisbon, who come to Camp Nou on Tuesday night for the final game of Champions League Group D, beat Belenenses at home, 1–0 on Friday night in Primeira Liga action. Bas Dost, last season's Golden Shoe runner up to Leo Messi, converted a penalty kick in minute 13. 

Barça have already clinched the top spot in Group D—and a berth in the last 16—and have little to play for, but Sporting need a win, plus help from Juventus, to make it past the group stage.

Real Madrid frustrated

And Barça will remain a nice eight points clear of Real Madrid, who were unable to break the deadlock at struggling Athletic Bilbao in Saturday’s late game. The 0-0 draw means the all-whites are without a win in their last three away games.

Atlético Madrid are now third after coming from behind to beat Real Sociedad, with Antoine Griezmann grabbing the winner just two minutes from the end.

Yellow Submarine sink on the road

Next up for Barça in the league is a visit to Villarreal on Sunday at 8.45pm CET. The ‘yellow submarine’ are currently sixth in La Liga, but fell to Leganés, 3–1, in Sunday's early game. Villarreal took a 1–0 lead after 60 minutes, but Leganés notched the equaliser just 12 minutes later before taking the lead in the 81st and adding an insurance goal in the 93rd.