BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona conceded a second goal to Getafe forward Angel Lafita in injury time to stumble to a 2-2 draw at home on Saturday, dealing a major blow to its hopes of defending its Spanish league title.
Lionel Messi volleyed in Dani Alves' pass to open the scoring in the 23rd minute, only for Lafita to level after a rare attack for Getafe in the 37th.
Substitute Cesc Fabregas appeared to have put Barcelona back on track when he initiated a move that ended with Alexis Sanchez scoring in the 67th.
But Barcelona's brittle defense again betrayed it in the final moments when Lafita charged in to head home a cross and grab a draw that silenced the Camp Nou stands.
Out of the Champions League and Copa del Rey, Barcelona's chances of repeating as Spanish champion are fading fast. The Catalan club was left three points behind Atletico Madrid before the leader visits Levante on Sunday.
There are two more rounds remaining after this weekend. Real Madrid currently trails Atletico by six points but has one more game to play.
Despite still being mathematically alive, Barcelona appears to have given the title up.
"This hasn't been a good season, nor is this the way we wanted it to end," said Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino. "The responsibility lies with the manager. Our expectation was to stay in it as long as we could. We did so until today. If we haven't been able to beat a team fighting to stay up, then we don't deserve to be champions."
Martino, who is widely expected to be fired, added, "sometimes you don't think it's necessary to ask for a second chance because you don't deserve one."
The match was Barcelona's first home game since former coach Tito Vilanova's death last week from throat cancer. He was honored with a commemorative video, an enormous banner with the message "Tito, Always Eternal," and a minute's silence before kickoff.
Barring slipups by both Atletico and Madrid, Barcelona won't win a major title for the first time since the 2007-08 season, before former coach Pep Guardiola took over with Vilanova as his assistant. Vilanova led the team to the league title last year in his only season as head coach.
Barcelona dominated the outclassed Getafe for the first 80 minutes, but their lack of scoring touch cost the hosts dearly.
Lafita converted two of Getafe's three scoring opportunities, while Pedro Rodriguez and Alexis were particularly off target for a Barcelona side that generated a plethora of empty shots.
Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets said the players were the "only ones" to blame.
"We have committed mistakes that are not befitting players who want to play in this league. We won't win any titles this year, and I hope that serves the team in years to come."
Barcelona started well enough with Messi causing Getafe problems both before and after his 28th league goal of the campaign. Messi scored when arriving unmarked in a second wave of attackers to place Dani Alves' low cross into the net with a left-footed volley.
Barcelona pressed for a second goal but there were too many bodies packed into the area for Messi, Pedro and Andres Iniesta to break through.
Lafita capitalized on Pedro's hesitant marking on a free kick to slot in the equalizer, and Martino sent on Fabregas for defender Javier Mascherano in the second half.
The decision paid off with Alexis' goal seconds later, but Barcelona was later left undermanned at the back.
Barcelona goalkeeper Jose Pinto saved Pablo Sarabia's volley with 10 minutes to play, but he could to nothing to keep out Lafita's header when he jumped above Adriano to turn in Jaime Gavilan's last-gasp pass.
Getafe provisionally rose three points above the relegation zone.