Barcelona came from two goals down to snatch a late point away to Real Betis in La Liga tonight.
Melli headed Betis into the lead after 18 minutes and the Andalusians stunned the league leaders as they went two up through Mark Gonzalez seven minutes later.
But Samuel Eto'o pulled a goal back for the Catalans just before half-time after his penalty was parried by Ricardo and the Cameroon striker struck an equalizer six minutes from the end to break Betis' hearts and extend Barcelona's unbeaten league run to 21 games.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola opted to leave forwards Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry on the substitutes' bench after both played the 90 minutes in Wednesday's friendly between France and Argentina in Marseille.
There was no place in the starting line-up either for Yaya Toure or Rafael Marquez.
Marquez only returned from the United States on Thursday after playing in Mexico's 2-0 defeat to their bitter rivals and Guardiola admitted on Saturday that the player was tired.
With Carles Puyol out and Gabriel Milito still sidelined with a long-term injury, Guardiola paired Gerard Pique with Martin Caceres in central defence.
And after Xavi had shot wide early on, the unfamiliar pairing struggled to deal with Betis' intense play.
The hosts won a corner after 18 minutes and Melli got ahead of Sergi Busquets to head Betis into a shock lead.
Paco Chaparro's side had lost five of their last seven games before last weekend's derby win at Sevilla, but appeared to have gained confidence from having beaten their fierce rivals away from home for the first time in 13 years.
And seven minutes later, Betis went two up when Gonzalez clinically drilled past Victor Valdes after he was set up by Sergio Garcia.
Betis beat Barcelona 3-2 in the corresponding fixture last season after coming from two goals down and it looked as if there were more goals left in this game.
Eto'o came close for the visitors after 32 minutes, but his effort was comfortably saved by Ricardo in the end.
Barca looked well below their brilliant best and Achille Emana could have put Betis three up seven minutes before the break, but the Cameroon midfielder crashed his shot over the crossbar.
But just when it looked as if the home side would go in two goals to the good at half-time, Barcelona won a penalty.
Juande was adjudged to have brought down Andres Iniesta, although Betis were furious with the decision.
Eto'o saw his spot-kick saved by Ricardo, but netted the rebound to give Barca hope in the second half.
Betis had a goal disallowed after the break and Eto'o missed a one-on-one as the game continued at a pulsating pace.
Pique then headed wide and Emana saw his effort saved by Valdes at the other end.
The game was there for the taking and Guardiola made a bold double change after 57 minutes, when he brought on Messi and Henry for Alexander Hleb and Seydou Keita.
Messi and Iniesta both missed good chances to equalise as Barca began to dominate, but Ricardo Oliveira squandered a glorious opportunity at the other end, when he shot straight at Valdes' body from close range.
Ricardo then produced a fine save to deny Henry and somehow kept out Pique's shot from point-blank range with eight minutes left.
But two minutes later, the Portugal goalkeeper could do nothing to prevent Eto'o from equalizing.
The African turned brilliantly on the edge of the box after receiving a pass from Xavi and lashed an unstoppable drive past Ricardo to bring Barca level.
The Catalans went in search of a dramatic late winner in the closing stages, but Betis stood firm to earn a deserved draw and became only the fourth side to take points off Barcelona this season.
Barca stay well clear at the top, but their lead will be cut to 10 points if Real Madrid win at Sporting Gijon on Sunday.
Betis climb provisionally to 13th, but could drop three places on Sunday.
