Lionel Messi 7/10, Sergi Roberto 4/10 as Barca’s title hopes now hanging by a thread after Levante draw

Barcelona blew a two-goal lead and the chance to go top of La Liga as their title hopes faded with a 3-3 draw at Levante on Tuesday.

First-half strikes from Lionel Messi and Pedri had Barca on track for three points but quick-fire goals after the break from Gonzalo Melero and Jose Luis Morales drew the hosts level.

Ousmane Dembele restored Barca’s in the 64th minute but a late goal from Sergio Leon earned Levante a point and effectively ended Ronald Koeman’s chances of winning the league with two games to go.

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Positives

Barca scored three goals, which should be enough to win a game, especially against the 13th-placed side in La Liga.

Negatives

Where to start?

Barca’s second-half collapse provoked memories of recent Champions League humiliations — and also of recent trips to Levante, where they’ve been beaten 5-4 and 3-1 in recent seasons. Koeman’s side have proved incapable of holding on to a lead in recent weeks and are unable to defend through possession and pressing as they once did.

The point moves them second in the table on 76 points, but they now need Atletico (77 points) to drop at least five points from their final three games as the Rojiblancos have the superior head-to-head record in the event of a tie after 38 matches. That doesn’t even take into account Real Madrid, who are a point behind Barca with a game in hand.

2 Related

Manager rating out of 10

4 — Koeman’s side lost control in the second half and, once again, they looked fragile when defending a lead. He’s repeatedly favoured defending in numbers rather than defending with the ball.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 5 — Not at fault for any of the goals but not the commanding presence he has been in recent years.

DF Ronald Araujo, 6 — Picked up an ankle injury in the first half and had to be taken off at the break. He was missed.

DF Gerard Pique, 5 — At 34, he’s only six months older than Morales, but the Levante forward made him look like the ageing defender he is at times. Leon also across him for the third Levante goal.

DF Clement Lenglet, 5 — Tried his luck from distance in the first half but must take his share of the blame for Barca’s second-half disaster-class at the back, even though there were no glaring errors this time.

MF Ousmane Dembele, 7 — Set up Pedri’s goal with great pace and hammered in Barca’s third. Also worked hard in defence from a wing-back position considering he’s a forward.

MF Frenkie de Jong, 6 — Set up early chances for Pedri but his influence on the game dwindled in the second half. Was also booked so will be suspended for Sunday’s game against Celta Vigo.

MF Sergio Busquets, 6 — Played with a face mask after bruising his cheekbones at the weekend. Like De Jong, lost control of the game late on.

Barcelona again squandered a massive opportunity to go top of the table, leaving Lionel Messi beyond frustrated. Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

MF Pedri, 6 — Missed two good chances in the first 10 minutes before finally taking his third later in the first half, to make it 2-0. Tired in the second half and was replaced with 20 minutes to play.

MF Jordi Alba, 6 — Set up Messi’s first goal and limited Levante’s threat down Barca’s left-hand side, with all their goals coming from the other flank.

FW Lionel Messi, 7 — Opened the scoring with a well-taken volley to take his tally for the season to 29 in La Liga. Also fed Dembele ahead of Pedri’s goal and was involved in the build-up to the third.

FW Antoine Griezmann, 5 — Worked hard and linked play well in the first half but didn’t offer enough in the final third.

Substitutes

DF Sergi Roberto, 4 — Came on at half-time but was taken off later in the half, a sign that he had not done well as the right-sided centre-back.

DF Oscar Mingueza, N/R — Came on late in the game to add more numbers in defence.

MF Sergino Dest, N/R — Only handed the final 15 minutes or so but was easily beaten by Tono, who set up Levante’s equaliser.

FW Martin Braithwaite, N/R — Didn’t have time to make an impact.

MF Riqui Puig, N/R — Brought energy off the bench after the Levante leveller but it was too late to bring anything else in a rare appearance under Koeman.