Barcelona 1-0 Levante: Messi rescues Barca once again

Lionel Messi-Barcelona

Barcelona defeated Levante on Sunday with Lionel Messi on the scoresheet to hand Barcelona their second win in three games.

The Catalan side fresh from a humiliating week in which they lost at home to Juventus in the Champions League struggled to break down a stubborn Levante side who were on a six-game unbeaten run. But in the end, had to rely on their legendary captain to able them out and hand them their fifth win of the season.

Ronald Koeman stuck to his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation that had raised brows in the recent week with Lionel Messi, Philippe Coutinho, Antonio Griezmann and Martin Braithwaite starting together in attack.

However, it was Levante who started with more intent. The visitors could have been in front in the 11th minute but De Frutos could not beat Ter Stegen when sent through on goal.

The chance was a warning sign for Barcelona and they soon responded with a chance of their own through a Griezmann header that Fernandez had to save with a terrific reflex save. However, despite enjoying more of the ball in the first half, the hosts couldn’t find a way past their visitors.

They eventually did in the 76th minute when Messi found the net following a neat De Jong pass. In the end, the goal which was Messi’s 600th, was enough to hand Barca their 15th consecutive home victory over Levante in the League.

The win meant that Barca now have 17 points from 11 games—nine less than Real Sociedad in first. While Levante remain in the relegation zone with 11 points from 12 games.