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    Ronald Koeman: ‘We are still in La Liga title race’

    Lionel Messi struck 14 minutes from time to secure 3 points against having a hard time Levante.

    Ronald Koeman firmly insisted Barcelona are still in the La Liga title hunt after a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Levante

    Barcelona needed to depend on a late minute of magic from Lionel Messi to see off Levante, who stay in the relegation zone after a 16th straight defeat at the Nou Camp.

    The win moves Barcelona as much as 8th and to within 9 points of leading 2 Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid, the latter having actually lost 2-0 to city competitors Real Madrid on Saturday.

    Lionel Messi scores Barcelona’s winner against Levante at the Nou Camp (Joan Monfort/AP)

    “Of course we can win (the title),” Koeman stated at his post-match interview.

    ” If we enhance and we have more self-confidence and we enhance our efficiency (in front of goal), there’s a possibility.

    ” There are still great deals of games left staying. We understand our situation in the league

    “We knew after we lost against Cadiz we had to win and let’s hope that is good for the confidence.”

    ❝ We understood that … we needed towin ❞– @RonaldKoeman pic.twitter.com/PdgOjR8sav

    — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 13, 2020

    Messi’s winner, a crisp shot off the far post 14 minutes from time, was only his 5th league goal of the season.

    “You have to realise they don’t make it easy for him,” stated Koeman, who sent out on defender Samuel Umtiti in the closing minutes to safeguard Barcelona’s lead.

    ” He’s marked by lots (of players). He’s revealed he’s definitive.

    Barcelona are at home to Real Sociedad on Wednesday and full-back Jordi Alba thinks the Catalans are heading in the right instructions.

    Alba informed Movistar LaLiga: “The level of the league is good and we are on the right roadway to move up the table.

    ” No matter what took place in the Madrid derby, we need to do things the right way.

    ” If we do we’ll be up there. We have actually dropped a lot of points, that is clear.

    “But the league is very open. This year there are teams who have never been as high in the table and they are up there at the moment.”

    Levante goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez makes one of a number of great conserves against Barcelona (Joan Monfort/AP)

    Levante beat Getafe 3-0 last weekend, however that was only their second win of the campaign and the Valencia-based side stay 2 points from safety.

    Goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez stated: “We must take pride from the fact they ended the game with 3 centre-backs.

    ” That speaks well of the way we played and the game that we played. We made one error and they scored, however we need to keep revealing the very same mindset.

    “We wanted to move away from the bottom and it was a shame we could not do that.”

    ID:426416: cQx.

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