Is a Champions League season without Barcelona coming to a television screen near you?
La Liga’s perennial contenders dropped points again on Tuesday, an injured Lionel Messi watching from the stands as the Blaugranas struggled to score a winner.
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The match, coupled with the results of a high-profile scrap between Sevilla and Villarreal, has Barca in a Europa League place after 15 matches.
Sevilla 2-0 Villarreal
Lucas Ocampos converted an eighth-minute penalty and assisted Youssef En-Nesyri’s 53rd-minute marker as Julen Lopetegui’s men held it down at home to leapfrog their visitors.
Sevilla’s 26 points are the same as Villarreal, who has played two more matches. Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid lead the league with 32 points.
Barcelona 1-1 Eibar
The Ousmane Dembele redemption tour played the Camp Nou again on Tuesday as the French winger notched a second-half equalizer for Messi-less Barca.
Martin Braithwaite missed an eighth-minute penalty and then had a goal taken away by VAR within 20 minutes.
Former Middlesbrough man Kike then put the visitors ahead in the 57th minute, but the lead lasted just 10 minutes as Junior Firpo’s cross sailed through the 18 for Dembele to slash home.
The 23-year-old Dembele is fresh off a hamstring injury and now has five goals and two assists in 621 minutes this season. He made just nine appearances last season.
Barcelona’s 25 points in 15 matches are good for sixth place, one point back of three teams and seven behind the Madrid sides.
Junior Firpo finds OUSMANE DEMBELE and @FCBarcelona are level with @SDEibarEN!!#BarcaEibar
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) December 29, 2020
📺 - beIN SPORTS
💻📱 - beIN SPORTS CONNECT: https://t.co/LRYa03w6yI pic.twitter.com/pZ8chziLBx
Elsewhere
Cadiz 0-0 Real Valladolid
Levante 4-3 Real Betis