Barcelona player ratings at Levante: Lionel Messi gets 8 but a horrible night for Sergi Roberto

Barca title hopes crumble in draw at Levante

BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, 6 - Focussed against a Levante side who’ve won three of their last four at home to Barca and who beat both Real and Atletico Madrid this season. Twice saved in the first half dominated by Barca and difficult to do anything about Levante’s headed goal from close range. Then conceded a second, for which he could do little, in a disastrous two minute spell when Melero and Morales scored. The third was a killer. EPA

Ronald Araujo, 6 - Played on the right of a back three in a 3-1-4-2 formation. Hurt his ankle early on but recovered. He’d left the pitch with his team leading 2-0. Getty

Gerard Pique, 6 - Initially steady as Barca attempted to go back to the top of the table with two games to play but then unable to marshal the defence and, in the words of manager Koeman: “the whole team defensively was not at the level which was required". EPA

Clement Lenglet, 6 - Low left foot strike after 23 minutes was well saved. Blocked a 58th minute shot from Morales but Levante were level a minute later as Morales volleyed after more slack possession. Booked at the last, but simple passes went astray. AFP

Jordi Alba, 6 - Sliced a 28th minute volley wide after Messi set him up. Got forward and crossed, but effectively countered by an impressive Levante. AFP

Sergio Busquets, 7 - Played well just three days after fracturing his cheek bone. “It feels terrible,” he said after a game which finished 3-3. “As has happened too many times this season, errors have cost us. We weren’t precise with our passing and they took advantage of that. The point means very little to us.” AFP

Pedri, 7 - Shot narrowly over in the first minute and then again after four minutes. Both times set up by De Jong. Third time lucky as he side-footed in a pass from Dembele after 34 minutes. Third goal for Barca in his 51st game for the club. Incredible season for an 18-year-old who was playing second division football for Las Palmas last season. AP

Frenkie de Jong, 7 - Set up Pedri after a minute and kept getting forward down the middle. Shot just over after 55 but couldn’t add to his three league goals this season. Booked and will miss Sunday’s game against Celta Vigo. Reuters

Ousmane Dembele, 8 - Back in the team after six games on the bench and gave the ball away twice in the first 20 minutes to set up Levante attacks. Looked like he was played as a right wing back in the formation, but his manager said he would be in a more attacking role. And he was as he became a major threat down the right, stretching Levante and setting up Pedri’s goal. Scored the third, thrashing in a 66th minute shot. AFP

Lionel Messi, 8 - Drifted around for the first 25 minutes, then volleyed his 29th league goal of the season. He has 36 in all competitions. Then laid the ball off to Dembele who set up the second and it looked like his team were cruising to victory and to the top of the table. That didn’t happen and the league title looks a tall order with two games to play. Getty

Antoine Griezmann, 7 - No goals but movement created spaces and which led to some of the ten chances created in the first half alone. Set up Dembele on the right side of the box for Barça’s third after 63 minutes. Reuters

SUBS: Sergi Roberto, 4 - On for Araujo after 48 minutes. Went straight into right back position. Beaten in the air for Levante’s goal. Was moved into midfield after 73 with his defensive role not working. A horrid night for the Catalan. Getty

Oscar Mingueza, N/A - On for Pedri after 73. Should have been on much earlier. AFP

Martin Braithwaite, N/A - On or Griezmann after 81. Limited impact. AFP

Sergino Dest, N/A - On for Dembele after 82, got turned inside out for Levante’s third. Reuters

Riqui Puig, N/A - On for substitute Roberto after 85 as the sub was subbed. Lost the ball three times in his short time on the pitch. Getty

Lionel Messi scored a brilliant volley but Barcelona's title hopes look to be over after a 3-3 draw at Levante gives Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid the chance to pull away at the top of La Liga.

Another slip could prove decisive given Atletico will move four points clear of Barca with two games left if they can win away at Real Sociedad on Wednesday. Real Madrid will edge two points ahead of Ronald Koeman's side if they win away on Thursday at Granada.

There are certainly no guarantees in what has been a frenetic and thrilling title race in recent weeks, with all of Spain's four contenders stumbling down the final stretch.

Barcelona led 2-0 from Messi's acrobatic strike and a simple Pedri finish but two goals in two minutes before the hour suddenly had Levante level, Gonzalo Melero and Jose Luis Morales giving Levante hope.

Ousmane Dembele pulled the visitors ahead again but again they squandered the advantage, Sergio Leon diverting in at the near post and this time there was no way back.

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.