Xavi farewell: Deportivo fight back at Barcelona to beat drop

Deportivo La Coruna pulled off a miraculous escape to avoid relegation, coming back from two goals down to draw 2-2 against Barcelona as Xavi Hernandez bid farewell to Camp Nou.

Luis Enrique’s side clinched the Liga title with last week’s win over Atletico Madrid and so had little to play for ahead of the upcoming Copa Del Rey and Champions League finals, but for Depor their place in the top-flight was on the line.

And with Barcelona 2-0 up after an hour - with Lionel Messi scoring a double - Victor Sanchez’s side looked to be dead and buried. However, they mounted a sensational comeback to claim a point and scrape their way to safety.

Lucas Perez halved the deficit with an astonishing turn and finish into the top corner of Jordi Masip’s net - giving Deportivo a survival lifeline - with Eibar and Algeria drawing at the time of the goal.

And the visitors restored parity after 76 minutes, when Diogo Salomao smashed home from a blocked free-kick to complete a comeback that looked nearly impossible just moments ago - holding on for the point needed to keep them out of the bottom three.

Xavi was given a standing ovation by the Camp Nou crowd on his last Liga appearance before he makes the move to Qatari side Al Saad at the end of the season, but will surely play a significant part in Barcelona’s Copa Del Rey and Champions League final appearances.

4’ - GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Deportivo. Well, that didn't take long. Rafinha shows great technique to dink a cross to the back post, where Messi is on hand to head home. Barca have the lead.

17’ - GREAT SAVE: What an incredible double save from Fabricio! The Deportivo La Coruna keeper makes the initial save low down from Messi, and then gets up quickly to save from Pedro at close range. Wow!

44’ - XAVI CHANCE: That was almost the moment the Camp Nou had been waiting for! Xavi takes a shot a goal from the edge of the penalty area, but the effort takes a deflection off Sidnei and spins wide of the target.

59’ - GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Deportivo. That was the opportunity for Xavi to find the net! A scramble inside the area falls back to the midfielder, who tries to chip Fabricio - but the Deportivo La Coruna keeper makes the save.

67’ - GOAL! Barcelona 2-1 Deportivo. The away team have a survival lifeline! Perez took the shot on the swivel and smashed a strike into the top corner. What a bloomin' goal!

72’ - WOODWORK: Deportivo La Coruna have hit the bar! Perez fired a freekick towards the Barcelona goal from a tight angle, and it hit he woodwork. Masip might have had it covered, but even still.... wooft!

74’ - ANOTHER XAVI CHANCE: That was the opportunity for Xavi to find the net! A scramble inside the area falls back to the midfielder, who tries to chip Fabricio - but the Deportivo La Coruna keeper makes the save.

76’ - GOAL! Barcelona 2-2 Deportivo. Oh my goodness! This is incredible! A free-kick is blocked on the edge of the box, and Salamao hammers home the finish!

Xavi attempted 112 passes in the opposite half, the most by a player in a La Liga game this season.

Lionel Messi has scored 56 goals in 55 appearances for Barcelona this season.

Barcelona finished the season with 94 points; that’s seven more than Pep Guardiola managed in his first campaign.

Luis Enrique must start Xavi in the Champions League final. This match was more about sentiment than anything else for the legendary Spanish midfielder, but it did also underline just how important he is to Barcelona - even at his veteran age. The Catalans simply have more control in the centre of the pitch when Xavi plays, and that’s exactly what Barcelona will need against Juventus in the Champions League final.

Fabricio (Deportivo): Were it not for the Deportivo La Coruna stopper, Victor Sanchez’s team would have been out of sight by the time Lucas Perez scored the goal that got the visitors back into the match. The goalkeeper made a number of astonishing saves to keep Depor within touching distance of Barcelona, and that paid dividends when the away team made their charge in the final 20 minutes of the match. Incredible stuff.

Barcelona: Masip 5, Mathieu 6, Vermaelen 5, Bartra 5, Adriano 6, Xavi 7, Roberto 6, Rafinha 7, Neymar 7, Pedro 5, Messi 8. Subs - Douglas 5, Mascherano 5, Iniesta.

Deportivo La Coruna: Fabricio 9, Canella 5, Sidnei 7, Lopo 6, Laure 5, Alex 6, Borges 5, Cavaleiro 7, Dominguez 6, Salamao 8, Perez 8. Subs - Medunjanin 5, Riera 6, Rodriguez.