In the 59th minute, when the score was 2-1 in favor of Barca, Messi passed without looking, creating an opportunity for Levante to quickly counterattack.
Osmane Dembele then corrected his teammates by scoring a goal to increase the score to 3-2 in the 64th minute. But Barca could not keep the result, allowing Sergio Leon to level the gap seven minutes before the end of the second half.
The draw left Barca still one point behind Atletico, but having played one more match.
Messi was disappointed after his team’s goal in the 60th minute. Photo: AP
Round 36 is considered the final step, preventing Atletico from winning the La Liga throne.
But that is only a sufficient condition, the necessary condition is that Barca must defeat Levante in the early match.
Messi has 29 goals in La Liga this season.
Messi’s goal relieved Barca’s psychology.
Levante drew one, lost four in the last five rounds, but has a respectable head-to-head record against Barca.
Before Melero scored, how weak Levante was, after that, they were even more fierce.
Levante rose strongly after equalizing 2-2 from Messi’s error.
The person who sparked the equalizer was left back Tono.
Loss of fitness prevented Barca from scoring the fourth goal in more than 10 minutes remaining, including overtime.
Squad
Levante: Fernandez, Duarte (Gomez 61′), Bardhi (Malsa 61′), Vezo, Pier, Tono, Frutos, Melero, Morales (Kochorashvili 90′), Miramon (Coke 75′), Marti (Leon 75′).
Barca: Ter Stegen, Jordi Alba, Pique, Lenglet, Araujo (Roberto 46′, Puig 85′), Sergio Busquets, De Jong, Pedri (Mingueza 74′), Dembele (Dest 82′), Griezmann (Braithwaite 81′),