Ronald Koeman backs Barcelona to 'fight until the last moment' in La Liga title battle

Goalless draw with leaders Atletico means Catalans are reliant on rivals dropping points if they want to be crowned champions

BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen - 8: Had to be lively to block Luis Suarez just after half-hour mark and then Carrasco minutes later – then again from Suarez with his left hand. Like Oblak at the opposite end in a competitive game, he was on form against Atletico’s organised anarchy. AP

Oscar Mingueza - 5: On the side with 64 per cent of possession yet kept busy by the fast and direct Carrasco. Struggled as Atletico had the better of the first half and replaced at half time. EPA

Gerard Pique - 8: Marking a very determined Suarez in the Camp Nou sun. Blocked a Carrasco shot before half time and didn’t mislay a single pass. Headed a Messi ball wide after 63 as Messi – and his team – came to life. Yellow card after 82 after stopping the troublesome trickery of Joao Felix. AFP

Clement Lenglet - 7: Busy in the first half as part of Barca’s three-man central defence, but didn’t make a single error. Headed a Messi free-kick high and wide just after break when he’d have been better leaving the header to Araujo. AP

Sergio Busquets - 6: Limped off with a blooded nose after 30 minutes following a head clash with Savic. He did come back on the pitch but worryingly went back down. Getty

Sergino Dest - 7: Showed pace but the space between the American and Mingueza was what Atletico tried to exploit with long balls. Only 20 and in his first season, but he’s becoming an important player for the young Catalan side. AFP

Frenkie De Jong - 7: Switched to position of Busquets after his injury and became, at 23, the most experienced head in Barca’s midfield alongside two 18-year-olds. AFP

Pedri - 7: Twisted and turned on his 50th Barca appearance. Attacked and made key defensive blocks. A superb first season for the Canarian, but will he end up a league champion? AP

Jordi Alba - 7: Trippier had the measure of the Catalan who is usually adept at finding space down the left and ultimately combining with Messi. Went wider as the game went on and found more success, none more than when he crossed beautifully for Dembele after 84 minutes. Booked. AP

LIonel Messi - 8: Every Barca attack went through their best player. Had got away from Saul after 34 but was fouled and the Atletico player carded. Took on six visiting defenders and shot wide with his left foot in the best moment of the first half. He struck an 89th minute free-kick just wide – though the excellent Oblak likely had it, and everything else, covered. AFP

Antoine Griezmann - 6: Struggled to find space against Atletico’s three deep-playing central defenders and barely featured. Better in second and that’s probably why he stayed on the pitch. Getty

SUBS: Moriba Kourouma - (On for Busquets 32') 7: Attack-minded and physical midfielder, 18, and despite his inexperience he got an hour after replacing the injured Busquets. Booked for a late challenge. AP

Ronald Araujo - (On for Mingueza 45') 7: Put the ball in the net with a header after 69 but he was well offside. Solid and impressive. A big reason why his team were far better in the second half than the first. Reuters

Ousmane Dembele - (On for Dest 75') 6: Had Barca’s best chance but headed an Alba cross over. EPA

Sergi Roberto - (On for Gonzalez 75') 6: Couldn’t help break the deadlock. AP

ATLETICO RATINGS: Jan Oblak - 8: Untested for most of the first half but may have pulled off one of the saves of the season when getting a finger a tip to Messi’s effort that looked destined for the back of the net. The Slovenian then proved his world-class calibre once more when pushing a free-kick wide of the post.

Stefan Savic - 7: Read the play well to intercept passes quickly and adjusted well to moments where Barca tried to get in behind with clever movement. Solid. EPA

Felipe - 7: Alert to the danger and often in the way of intricate Barcelona passing moves. The Brazilian ensured that Barca’s frontmen were shutout for most of the game. EPA

Mario Hermoso - 7: The centre-back found himself up the pitch in the first half and almost registered an assist when driving the ball across the box into Correa. At the other end, the 25-year-old was just as influential, getting in the way of what looked to be a certain goal from Moriba’s effort. EPA

Kieran Trippier - 6: A chess match between Trippier and Alba ensured neither full-back were much of an influence but the English defender could have done more to stop Alba getting crosses into the box at times. EPA

Koke - 7: A solid display as usual from the Atletico veteran, acting as the anchor between the midfield and defence. Getty

Marcos Llorente - 6: Defended well throughout but made it too easy for ter Stegen when finding space inside the box from a cross. The end product wasn’t there for a player who has been one of the best performers in La Liga this season. EPA

Thomas Lemar - The Frenchman looked bright before being forced off with an injury early on. EPA

Yannick Carrasco - 8: - If Atletico were going to score, it was going to be through this man. Carrasco constantly asked questions of the Barcelona defence with runs in behind and his confidence on the ball. Atletico’s best-attacking player on the day.

Angel Correa - 6: Worked hard and was able to craft some chances with good movement. The striker will be wondering how he didn’t score when Gerard Pique made an excellent block in the box. AFP

Luis Saurez - 6: Unable to effect the game against his former club and failed to trouble Ter Stegen. Getty

SUBS: Saul Niguez - (On for Lemar 13') 6: Not involved much on the offensive front with Atletico's priority on containing Barcelona’s attacking threat. Replaced in second half with game in balance. AFP

Joao Felix - (On for Saul 67') 6: Struggled to find any space after coming on. AFP

Geoffrey Kondogbia - (On for Correa 73') 6: Made some strong runs through the middle of the park, creating some dangerous openings but the league leaders were unable to convert. EPA

Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman says his team will "fight until the last moment" in the La Liga title battle, despite their frustrating draw with leaders Atletico Madrid on Saturday

But the Dutchman also admitted that his team must not suffer any more slip ups in their remaining three games.

The 0-0 draw at home to Atleti left Barca third in the standings, two points behind Diego Simeone's side and level with second-placed Real Madrid, who snatched a 2-2 draw against visitors Sevilla on Sunday.

Barca can go provisionally top of La Liga by winning their next game at Levante on Tuesday but Atletico and Real will have to drop points in their remaining fixtures if the Catalans are to get their hands on the trophy.

"We're going to fight until the last moment to win La Liga. It's no longer in our hands but we can't commit any more errors," Koeman said on Monday.

The former Netherlands national team manager believes his side have been left jaded after an unforgiving season and congested fixture schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He also felt the lack of supporters was to blame for Barcelona's lowest points total in home matches since the 2002/03 season.

"We are at our limits but so is every team, especially those who have played in Europe or got to finals. There's been so many games and in the end they take their toll on you," he said.

Barca reached the Champions League last 16 this season before going out to Paris Saint-Germain. They also played in the Copa del Rey final, beating Athletic Bilbao 4-0 in Seville.

Gallery: Barca 0 Atletico 0

Barcelona's Lionel Messi after a missing a chance during the goalless La Liga draw with Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou on Saturday, May 8. AP

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann with Koke of Atletico Madrid. Reuters

Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele heads over the bar late in the second half. Reuters

Dejected Barca players after Ousmane Dembele's miss. Reuters

Atletico's Luis Suarez tries to keep the ball in play. Reuters

Barcelona's Ronald Araujo heads home but the goal is disallowed for offside. Reuters

Barcelona's Lionel Messi is challenged by Saul Niguez of Atletico. Reuters

Atletico Madrid striker Luis Suarezand Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen challenge for the ball. AP

Barca's Lionel Messi is fouled by Sauel Niguez of Atletico Madrid. Getty

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann after missing a chance. AP

Former Barca teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez hug before the game. AP

"Playing without fans also has an impact, that's why teams have dropped so many points at home. It's not normal to play so many games. In the end, the team that is strongest physically and mentally will win the title."

Koeman also insists he will remain as Barca manager next season and retains the backing of the club's board.

"From the first day the president has shown his confidence in me and for me it is not something to be worried about, I signed two years as a coach and I see myself as Barcelona coach next year," he said.

“If not, the president will speak to me, but we will not speak until the end of the season as now is not the time, the most important thing is the end of La Liga and not my future as a coach.”

Koeman said he did not see all of Real's match with Sevilla as he does not enjoy watching Barca's title rivals play.

He said Real's complaints about Eder Militao's handball were not surprising due to the lack of clarity on handball decisions.

"I watched the first 20 minutes of Real Madrid and then AC Milan against Juventus because watching the [Real] game made me nervous. I prefer to watch a different game and find out the result when it's over," he said.

"If Madrid think that they were treated unfairly then that's their problem. All I will say is, as a coach, we've reached the point where we no longer know when a handball is a handball."