MX23RW : Wednesday, August 4 23:16:22| >> :60:1130:1130:
May 11, 2021 at 9pm UK at Estadi Ciutat de Valencia
LevanteLevante
3-3
BarcelonaBarcelona
Melero (57'), Luis Morales (59'), Leon (83')
de Frutos (67'), Luis Morales (78')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Messi (25'), Pedri (34'), Dembele (64')
de Jong (77'), Lenglet (90+1')

Ronald Koeman: 'Title hopes have taken a huge blow'

Ronald Koeman: 'Title hopes have taken a huge blow'
© Reuters
The Catalan giants are now one point behind LaLiga leaders Atletico Madrid.

Ronald Koeman admitted it will be "very difficult" for Barcelona to win LaLiga after they twice squandered the lead to draw with Levante.

Barca were pegged back from 2-0 at half-time to 2-2 and after Ousmane Dembele gave them the lead once again, substitute Sergio Leon grabbed a point for the hosts.

The result leaves Koeman's side a point behind leaders Atletico Madrid and a point ahead of Real Madrid, who have three games left to Barca's two. Atletico and Real play on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

The Dutchman said at a post-match press conference reported by Marca: "The league is more complicated now. The objective was to win all three games, but now it is very difficult."

Asked about his future at the club, Koeman added: "As a coach you are the most responsible.

"Coaches are always questioned. I understand that questions are being asked. I understand perfectly.

"We are very disappointed with the result."

Lionel Messi's superb volley was added to by Pedri, only for Gonzalo Melero and Jose Morales to draw Levante level before Dembele and Leon traded goals.

Koeman said: "We were good in the first half but in the second half we lost a lot of dangerous balls, we lowered the intensity. We made a lot of mistakes in defence. We were not attentive.

Lionel Messi File Photo
Lionel Messi opened the scoring for Barcelona (Nick Potts/PA)

"The games last 90 minutes and we lost a lot in the second half. It is very disappointing. It is difficult to explain what has happened.

"We were 0-2. You don't expect a draw."

Levante coach Paco Lopez said: "The feelings weren't bad despite the 0-2 (half-time score). We made the players see it and we had to have faith. We were effective in the second half.

"Sergio had had many minutes in which he was not successful, but today he has given us a point."

Goalscorer Leon added: "Satisfied for the draw, the comeback and for my goal, which I also needed.

"The second half went very well and we were able to overcome a great team. Scoring against these teams gives you a bonus to face the two remaining games with the best possible attitude."

ID:447088: cacheID:447088:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5043:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring against Getafe in La Liga on April 22, 2021
Read Next:
Tuesday's La Liga predictions including Levante vs. Barcelona
>

rhs 2.0
Olympic medal table header
CountryGold medalSilver MedalBronze MedalT
ChinaChina32221670
United StatesUnited States25312379
JapanJapan2171240
Great BritainGreat Britain15181548
AustraliaAustralia1541736
Today's Olympic highlights header

Thursday's key events


ATHLETICS
· The women's heptathlon continues with the long jump, javelin and 800m, with Katarina Johnson-Thompson now out of contention following an injury (1.10am-1.40pm)
· Andrew Pozzi pursues his dream of an Olympic medal in the men's 110m hurdles final (3.55am)
· Tom Bosworth and Callum Wilkinson are among the British hopes in the men's 20km race walk (8.30am)
· Holly Bradshaw aims to improve on fifth in Rio to challenge Greece's Katerina Stefanidi and Anzhelika Sidorova of Russia for an unlikely medal in the women's pole vault (11am)
· London 2012 champion Kirani James goes up against current world champion Steven Gardiner in the men's 400m final (1pm)

MARATHON SWIMMING
· One of the toughest Olympic events takes place in Tokyo Bay as GB's Hector Pardoe takes on the men's 20km marathon swim (10.30pm Wed)

BOXING
· Galal Yafai takes on takes on Kazakhstan's Saken Bibossinov for a spot in the gold medal bout of the fly (48kg-52kg) class (6.48am)

DIVING
· Lois Toulson and Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix (daughter of First Dates' Fred Sirieix) line up for the women's 10m platform (semi-final 2am; final 7am)

HOCKEY
· Australia face Belgium in the men's final (11am)

> Today's schedule in full
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Athletic Bilbao00000000
2Atletico MadridAtletico00000000
3Barcelona00000000
4CadizCadiz00000000
5Celta Vigo00000000
6AlavesAlaves00000000
7ElcheElche00000000
8Espanyol00000000
9Getafe00000000
10Granada00000000
11Levante00000000
12Mallorca00000000
13Osasuna00000000
14Rayo Vallecano00000000
15Real Betis00000000
16Real Madrid00000000
17Real Sociedad00000000
18Sevilla00000000
19Valencia00000000
20Villarreal00000000

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!