Barça held by Vigo, Malaga take three points

Lionel Messi again made history but his goal was not enough to earn Barcelona a win over relegation-threatened Celta Vigo as the two teams split the points in a 2-2 draw.

The Argentinian international is no stranger to treading new ground and his 73rd-minute goal tonight meant he has scored in 19 successive La Liga matches. In doing so he has found the net against every other side in the competition - the first player to ever do that in consecutive matches - and he has 29 goals from his last 19. Tonight's would not be the winner, though, with Borja Oubina's late header earning Celta a point, with Naxto Insa's opener having been earlier scrubbed out by Cristian Tello's goal.

Augusto Fernandez's shot was tipped around the post by Jose Pinto and with 38 minutes gone Insa put the home side ahead, slotting in from close range after a smart cross from Fabian Orellana. Barça would level before the break, though, with Tello being played in down the left by Messi and opening his body before curling a shot across the body of Javi Varas and in to the far corner.

In between times, both sides had seen penalty appeals turned down, with Messi and Chu-young Park both claiming to have been tripped, but both were waved away. Messi would have an impact after the interval, having a shot smartly saved by Varas and then securing another piece of history with 17 minutes left.

The first goal was reversed, with Tello pulling back from the left and Messi arriving just in time to convert. It would not secure the points, though, with Oubina`s looping header off Fabian Orellana`s 88th-minute cross and levelling things up.

Earlier, Malaga temporarily reclaimed fourth spot in the La Liga table with a 3-1 victory at Rayo Vallecano. Weligton gave Manuel Pellegrini's side the lead but Piti levelled for the hosts from the penalty spot.

Former Real Madrid forward Julio Baptista scored his first goal in 18 months to restore Malaga's lead early in the second half before Pedro Morales secured all three points with a wonderful goal. It was Malaga's first win in five matches and a boost to their European ambitions but Rayo remain in ninth.