Result: Levante 3-3 FC Barcelona
Date: 11 May 2021
Venue: Estadio Ciudad de Valencia
FC Barcelona have blown the chance to move top of LaLiga once again after playing to an entertaining 3-3 draw at Levante on Tuesday night.
Barca made two changes from the draw against Atletico Madrid, as Ronald Araujo and Ousmane Dembele started ahead of Oscar Mingueza and Sergino Dest, who both dropped to the bench.
The hosts were dominant but were unable to penetrate Levante in the opening exchanges, however, Lionel Messi finally broke the deadlock in the 25th minute with a low volley at the near post after a deflection from Jordi Alba's cross.
The game opened up after that, as Enis Bardhi came close to pulling the hosts level six minutes later after latching onto a rebound at the near post but his strike was saved by shot-stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Pedri gave Ronald Koeman's charges a two-goal cushion 11 minutes before the break with a tap-in after a square pass by Dembele.
Levante came back fired up from the break as Gonzalo Melero pulled a goal back three minutes before the hour-mark with a close range header after a brilliant cross by Jorge Miramon.
Jose Morales quickly levelled matters for Paco Lopez's troops two minutes later with a strike across Ter Stegen after Messi's back pass was intercepted by Roger Marti, who played a through ball
Dembele restored the lead for the Catalan side in the 64th minute with a cracking strike past goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez after latching onto a loose ball inside the box
Koeman made a double change in the last eight minutes, with Dest replacing Dembele in another defensive move while Martin Braithwaite came on for Antoine Griezmann for fresh legs.
Sergio Leon pulled Levante level again moments later after catching Ter Stegen out at his near post after Dest slipped trying to defend against Tono.
The hosts held on to claim a point as Barca move to second spot, one point behind leaders Atletico Madrid and one point ahead of third-placed Real Madrid, both of whom are in action on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.
