A Luis Suarez brace, either side of Fedor Smolov’s 50th-minute equaliser, had Barca on course for three points but former Liverpool striker Iago Aspas struck to leave them relying on other results if they are to win a third Spanish title in a row.

The Catalan club will be hoping for a favour from city rivals Espanyol on Sunday when they face Real Madrid, who now sit a point off the top but with a game in hand.

Even then Quique Setien’s side face one of the toughest tasks possible in their fixture with an away trip to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, the first of six remaining matches.

The midweek fixture will be another opportunity for Lionel Messi to net his much-anticipated 700th Barcelona goal having failed to find the net for an uncharacteristic third successive match.

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