BARCELONA’s title dream could be over after they twice threw away the lead to draw with Levante in a La Liga thriller.
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THAT’S ALL FROM LEVANTE
Barcelona wasted a golden opportunity to climb up to the top of LaLiga after drawing 3-3 with Levante at the Ciutat de Valencia.
Barca started strong as they opened the scoring with Lionel Messi’s fine finish on 25 minutes.
The Blaugrana doubled their lead just nine minutes later with Pedri and went back to the dressing room at half-time with a two-goal lead.
However, Ronald Koeman’s men saw their comfortable cushion disappear inside two minutes when Gonzalo Melero and Jose Luis Morales equalised for Levante with some beautiful finishes.
Barcelona regained their lead just five minutes later with Ousmane Dembele but the Frogs wouldn’t be denied as Sergio Leon equalised again soon after.
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GETTY IMAGES MELERO REACTS
Levante star Gonzalo Melero is very pleased with the result.
Melero said: “We were 0-2 at halftime against a whole Barcelona and it tastes very good to us, of course.
“We knew what we were doing right and what we had done wrong. You have to appreciate the point for the entity of the rival.
“They generate a lot with little. The key was to refine more in the final meters, where we had hardly even shot.
“In the second half we were more effective and we also defended better. They are always beautiful against Barcelona here, really.
“Hopefully the fans will be able to see this type of game again soon. We got our best version in the second part”
GETTY IMAGES BUSQUETS REACTS
Barcelona star Sergio Busquets didn’t sound too confident ahead of the next two matches.
Busquets said: “We leave with bad feelings because we had it difficult but we wanted to put pressure but it could not be.
“We have had advantages on the scoreboard but, as has happened during part of the season, they have made us easy goals, they have created difficulties for us and the point is not enough because LaLiga is sentenced against us.
“We are not precise. They have taken advantage of it. But even so we have had a clear chance of Frenkie [De Jong], of Pedri, but it could not be.
“We have not had a good second half. We have few options. It will depend on the rivals but this is our fault, of decisions, of concentration.
“They make goals easy for us. We were a stretch of the season well that we were with the spark that we are not.
“We have left many points to be able to fight with LaLiga. Mathematically no, and it was not this match”
GETTY IMAGES
DROPPING POINTS
Barcelona have experienced a season with many ups and downs.
And Ronald Koeman’s men are going to need a couple of more ups to win the title as today’s result poses as a very devastating down.
Barca’s campaign would have been a lot more different if they hadn’t given up so many leads.
More below:
UPDATED TABLE
Barcelona missed a golden chance to climb up to the top of the table after their 3-3 draw with Levante.
Barca are temporaily second but if Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid beat Granada and Real Sociedad respectively then they will drop back to third.
The Blaugrana simply need their rivals not to win all of their last three fixtures.
What a crazy rodeo this season’s LaLiga has turned out to be!
STATS
Barcelona dominated 61 per cent of possession but that couldn’t help them pick up the important three points.
Barca produced a total of 17 shots, five of which were on target.
Levante, on the other hand, registered a total of 16 shots, but only six of them were on target.
Barcelona got the better numbers but their title hopes may still be in tatters
FT: LEVANTE 3-3 BARCELONA
Barcelona’s title hopes have been dealt another major blow at Levante’s Ciutat de Valencia.
Barca started very strong as they created a 2-0 lead inside nine minutes with some lovely finishes by Lionel Messi and Pedri.
However, Levante came back from half-time much improved and equalised in just two minutes with Gonzalo Melero and Jose Luis Morales.
Barcelona regained the lead soon after with Ousmane Dembele but Sergio Leon levelled things up again for the hosts
GETTY IMAGES PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THAT’S FULL-TIME AT LEVANTE!!!!!!!!
LEVANTE 3-3 BARCELONA
90+4 CHANCE
A long shot by Coke gets deflected and goes out for a corner-kick
LEVANTE 3-3 BARCELONA
90+3 Barcelona have brought everyone up front except Ter Stegen.
But Levante’s defence is rock-solid
LEVANTE 3-3 BARCELONA
90 Four more minutes of stoppage time to go!
Barcelona really need a goal and aren’t convincing so far…
LEVANTE 3-3 BARCELONA
90 SUBSTITUTION
Levante boss Lopez replaces Morales with Giorgi
LEVANTE 3-3 BARCELONA
87 Barcelona need to win this match to keep their title hopes alive!
Anything else would see Barca not holding their fate in their own hands.
Koeman’s men will have to hope that Atletico and Real will also drop points
GETTY IMAGES LEVANTE 3-3 BARCELONA
87 Incredible scenes at Levante!
It seems like Barcelona may have bottled it again…
LEVANTE 3-3 BARCELONA
85 SUBSTITUTION
Barcelona boss Koeman makes another change as Puig replaces Sergi.
It seems like the Barca ace may have picked up a knock
LEVANTE 3-3 BARCELONA
83 What a match!
Pier finds Tono down the left flank and the Levante ace delivers a wonderful through ball inside the box.
Leon gets to the ball and fires an incredible shot from a tight angle and beat Ter Stegen!
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLL”
LEVANTE EQUALISE WITH LEON!!!!!!
LEVANTE 2-3 BARCELONA
81 SUBSTITUTION
Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman makes another double change as he introduces Dest and Braithwaite, who replace Dembele and Griezmann respectively
LEVANTE 2-3 BARCELONA
78 YELLOW CARD
Morales gets booked as he brings Dembele down with a sneaky foul.
The Barcelona star had a lot of momentum at his side in the counter-attack
LEVANTE 2-3 BARCELONA
78 YELLOW CARD
De Jong gets booked for a late challenge on Malsa
LEVANTE 2-3 BARCELONA
77 Pier tries a through ball for Gomez but the Levante star is caught offside.
Barcelona’s defence is struggling…
LEVANTE 2-3 BARCELONA
75 SUBSTITUION
Another switch from Levante boss Paco as Coke replaces Miramon and Leon replaces Roger
LEVANTE 2-3 BARCELONA
75 CHANCE
Gomez tries a long range-shot of his own but picks a deflection and the ball goes out for a corner-kick
LEVANTE 2-3 BARCELONA
74 SUBSTITUTION
Barcelona boss Koeman introduces Mingueza, who replaces Pedri.
Looks like Sergi will be moving to midfield
LEVANTE 2-3 BARCELONA
73 CHANCE
De Frutos tries a long-range shot but completely misses the target.
Levante are still knocking on Barcelona’s door!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
