It would be a sad ending for the greatest player in their history, to leave in a match without supporters to send him off, but almost fitting as Barcelona’s failures when it matters most have hurt him deeply.
Messi looked reinvigorated from the turn of the year, with 22 goals and eight assists in 20 Liga matches, but the defeats by Real Madrid, Granada and finally this draw with Levante have cost the Catalans their shot at an unlikely double.
They roped in Atletico’s 12-point lead and they were there for the taking, but in the clash at Camp Nou last weekend Barcelona were impotent, when they might have moved top.