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Pre-season Friendlies

Jul 30, 2013 at 7.45pm UK

Gdansk Lechia Gdansk
2-2
Barcelona

Bieniuk (15'), Grzelczak (50')

FT(HT: 1-1)

Roberto (26'), Messi (56')

Lionel Messi equaliser spares Barcelona blushes

By Kristian Johnson, Reporter | 30 July 2013

Polish side Lechia Gdansk take the lead twice against Barcelona, but Lionel Messi's goal secures a 2-2 draw for the Spanish champions.

Lionel Messi spared Barcelona's blushes as his goal rescued a 2-2 draw with Polish side Lechia Gdansk, who took the lead twice against the Catalan club.

Jordi Roura, managing the side in the absence of newly-appointed coach Gerardo Martino, named an attacking trio of Alexis Sanchez, Cristian Tello and Messi, with Neymar named among the substitutes.

For all Barcelona's attacking talent, the home side took a shock lead after a quarter of an hour. Jaroslaw Bieniuk, captaining the Polish team, rose highest from a corner to power a header beyond the reach of Jose Pinto.

As expected, Barcelona dominated possession for long periods, but Gdansk looked dangerous on the break.

The Catalan club did equalise in the 27th minute, though, after Martin Montoya's low cross was turned home by midfielder Sergi Roberto.

Lionel Messi, who was incredibly well-marshalled by the hosts' defence throughout the match, almost gave Barcelona the lead on the stroke of half time, but his free kick was well saved by Mateusz Bak.

Gdansk once again upset the odds by taking the lead with the second half just five minutes old. Montoya inexplicably allowed Piotr Grzelczak to beat him to a long ball, and the striker made no mistake in lashing home from a tight angle.

Grzelczak almost turned provider a few minutes later when his volley found Patryk Tuszynski at the far post, but the striker somehow managed to chest the ball over the bar with the goal gaping.

Tuszynski was left to rue his miss, as Messi levelled the scores just a minute later with a sumptuous scooped finish.

However, Messi missed a glorious opportunity to put his side ahead for the first time on the night, but scuffed his attempt when it seemed easier to score.

Gdansk continued to ask probing questions of the European heavyweights despite the introduction of Neymar, as Grzelczak's free kick dropped less than a yard wide of the post in the 69th minute.

The home side almost snatched a late winner, but Duda's injury-time cross was marginally too heavy for his teammates to turn home.