Head coach Ernesto Valverde believes his Barcelona side will take plenty of positives from having fought back to draw 4-4 at Villarreal.
The Catalans looked certain to suffer only their third La Liga loss of the season when they trailed 4-2 heading into the final minute of normal time at El Madrigal, before Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez scored to salvage a point.
I have the feeling that this match can help us a lot in the face of what is coming.
Ernesto Valverde
That was enough to keep Barca eight points ahead of Atletico Madrid, who won 2-0 at home to Girona, with the title rivals meeting this Saturday evening at the Camp Nou.
A relieved Valverde told reporters: "It shows that the league is not won and I have the feeling that this match can help us a lot in the face of what is coming.
"It's very big because we were losing and now we will face Saturday's game with another sensation, of having come back from two goals in the last minutes.
"Atletico is a rival who will never give up. We were not surprised and we will find this difficulty in all our remaining matches."
Meanwhile, Suarez praised the fighting qualities of his team after he had ensured the spoils were shared on Tuesday evening.
He added: "This team has so much spirit and we never throw in in the towel. We want to win this league and we have made that clear."
Barcelona can be backed at 8/11 to defeat Atleti on Saturday, with the draw priced at 13/5 and a 1-1 final scoreline available at 11/2.
Four of the last seven meetings of the two sides have ended in 1-1 draws, including the league clash with the Metropolitano earlier this season.
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Head coach Ernesto Valverde believes his Barcelona side will take plenty of positives from having fought back to draw 4-4 at Villarreal.
The Catalans looked certain to suffer only their third La Liga loss of the season when they trailed 4-2 heading into the final minute of normal time at El Madrigal, before Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez scored to salvage a point.
I have the feeling that this match can help us a lot in the face of what is coming.
Ernesto Valverde
That was enough to keep Barca eight points ahead of Atletico Madrid, who won 2-0 at home to Girona, with the title rivals meeting this Saturday evening at the Camp Nou.
A relieved Valverde told reporters: "It shows that the league is not won and I have the feeling that this match can help us a lot in the face of what is coming.
"It's very big because we were losing and now we will face Saturday's game with another sensation, of having come back from two goals in the last minutes.
"Atletico is a rival who will never give up. We were not surprised and we will find this difficulty in all our remaining matches."
Meanwhile, Suarez praised the fighting qualities of his team after he had ensured the spoils were shared on Tuesday evening.
He added: "This team has so much spirit and we never throw in in the towel. We want to win this league and we have made that clear."
Barcelona can be backed at 8/11 to defeat Atleti on Saturday, with the draw priced at 13/5 and a 1-1 final scoreline available at 11/2.
Four of the last seven meetings of the two sides have ended in 1-1 draws, including the league clash with the Metropolitano earlier this season.
View all Soccer betting
Source: bet365.com