After headlining the papers all week, Ousmane Dembele delivered for Barcelona. Stewart Robson examines how he influenced their draw at Atletico.

Ousmane Dembele broke the hearts of the fans at Wanda Metropolitano with a 90th minute goal, to save a point for Barcelona on the road.
Ousmane Dembele came off the bench to snatch a point for Barcelona as the La Liga leaders drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday.
Atletico took the lead in the 77th minute when Diego Costa headed home at the far post with the game’s first shot on target.
Barca managed to avoid suffering back-to-back league defeats, though, when substitute Dembele scored in the final minute of the match after good work from Lionel Messi.

Positives
This was a drab game which neither…

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Ousmane Dembele broke the hearts of the fans at Wanda Metropolitano with a 90th minute goal, to save a point for Barcelona on the road.

MADRID — Three points from the Wanda Metropolitano as Atletico Madrid and Barcelona drew 1-1 in a matchup between the top two teams in La Liga.

1. Barca stay on course for the title
Diego Costa’s late header appeared to have swung the La Liga title race Atletico Madrid’s way, but substitute Ousmane Dembele’s even later equaliser keeps Barcelona top of the table in what was a slow burning 1-1 at the Wanda Metropolitano Saturday night.
Barca remain a point ahead of Atletico at the top of the…

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The FC crew feel recent statements by Barcelona players about Ousmane Dembele are an effort to help him regain focus and form at the club.
BARCELONA — Ernesto Valverde feels some of the coverage of Ousmane Dembele’s struggles at Barcelona has been cruel, but says the French forward is under no more pressure than anyone else at the club.
Dembele missed training on the Thursday before the international break and was subsequently left out of the squad for the surprise defeat to Real Betis at Camp Nou.
Barca say he was absent from the training session because of a stomach bug but the local media have claimed he failed to turn up after…

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La Liga correspondent Sid Lowe and the FC crew weigh in on the drama surrounding Ousmane Dembele at Barcelona and his links to Liverpool.
Barcelona general manager Pep Segura has admitted that Ousmane Dembele is struggling to settle but insists the club will stick by the France forward.
Dembele, 21, was left out of Barca’s squad for last weekend’s loss to Real Betis after failing to turn up for training because he had a stomach bug.
Sources have told ESPN FC that the club have grown concerned over some of his bad habits and France coach Didier Deschamps said this week that he often has problems with punctuality.
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The FC panel answer your tweets on Liverpool’s precarious position in Group C, how Cavani’s absence affected PSG and if Ousmane Dembele or Malcom is more likely to leave Barca.
With the winter window opening soon, the rumour mill is beginning to gather pace. Who will be moving where come January? Transfer Talk has the latest.
TOP STORY: Liverpool ready record move for Barca’s Dembele

Liverpool are set to shatter their transfer record to sign Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona, according to the Sun.
France forward Dembele joined Barca last summer but could be on his way out amid questions over his attitude, with the Sun saying Jurgen Klopp “wants him to boost his team’s Premier…

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After Barcelona’s home defeat to Real Betis, the FC crew examine the club’s issues in the back, and Gab Marcotti questions their preparation.

Lionel Messi scored twice in his return from injury, but Real Betis netted four goals of their own to win 4-3, spoiling the Blaugrana star’s return.

Shaka Hislop unveils his latest club power rankings, then has to answer to the rest of the baffled FC crew.
Ousmane Dembele will not question his future at Barcelona despite “unfounded” criticism of his lifestyle, according to his agent.
Dembele has been questioned amid reports the France international has regularly arrived late for team meetings and games with his club. The 21-year-old was left out of Sunday’s defeat to Real Betis having missed training on Thursday with a stomach bug, which was only confirmed by Barca doctors after the club had spent 90 minutes trying to locate him.
France coach Didier…

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La Liga correspondent Sid Lowe and the FC crew weigh in on the drama surrounding Ousmane Dembele at Barcelona and his links to Liverpool.

The FC panel answer your tweets on Liverpool’s precarious position in Group C, how Cavani’s absence affected PSG and if Ousmane Dembele or Malcom is more likely to leave Barca.
With the winter window opening soon, the rumour mill is beginning to gather pace. Who will be moving where come January? Transfer Talk has the latest.
TOP STORY: Liverpool ready record move for Barca’s Dembele

Liverpool are set to shatter their transfer record to sign Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona, according to the Sun.
France forward Dembele joined Barca last summer but could be on his way out amid questions over his attitude, with the Sun saying Jurgen Klopp “wants him to boost his team’s Premier…

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The FC panel answer your tweets on Liverpool’s precarious position in Group C, how Cavani’s absence affected PSG and if Ousmane Dembele or Malcom is more likely to leave Barca.

Mauricio Pochettino feels sorry for Mousa Dembele after he picked up an injury and hopes he will return to the team soon. France coach Didier Deschamps says Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele must improve his professionalism to make it at the top level.
Sources told ESPN FC last month that bad habits were holding Dembele back at Barca and his punctuality has been the centre of attention this week.
Dembele, 21, didn’t turn up for training on Thursday and it took Barca’s staff 90 minutes to locate him at home, where the club said he was struggling with a stomach bug.
He then trained alone on Friday and then arrived late…

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Lionel Messi scored twice in his return from injury, but Real Betis netted four goals of their own to win 4-3, spoiling the Blaugrana star’s return.

Shaka Hislop unveils his latest club power rankings, then has to answer to the rest of the baffled FC crew.
Barcelona’s Gerard Pique has defended Ousmane Dembele at the end of another difficult week for the France forward, saying all players make mistakes when they are young. 
Sources have told ESPN FC that the club are concerned over elements of Dembele’s lifestyle and he was left out of the squad for Sunday’s 4-3 defeat to Real Betis after missing training earlier in the week.
Barca said Dembele missed Thursday’s session with an illness but local media reports said they had been unable to locate…

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Shaka Hislop unveils his latest club power rankings, then has to answer to the rest of the baffled FC crew.

Mark Donaldson presents his fantasy roster for ESPN’s Fantasy La Liga, where he has a tough time choosing between Real Madrid and Barcelona players.

Alexis Nunes challenges Paul Mariner in predicting La Liga’s fixtures during week 12. Barcelona captain Lionel Messi returned to the La Liga leaders’ squad to play Real Betis on Sunday, getting the all-clear from doctors to play three weeks after breaking his arm, but forward Ousmane Dembele was left out.
Messi has been training in the last week and travelled with the team to Tuesday’s Champions League game against Inter Milan but did not make the bench for the 1-1 draw.
Barca’s record scorer was injured against Sevilla last month but the Catalans have fared well in his absence, beating…

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