Barcelona fought back from two goals down to claim a dramatic 3-2 win against Levante in La Liga on Sunday. In truth, the Catalan side showed amazing character throughout the match. They came from behind to win and notch their second straight victory of the season. The match, held at Levante’s cavernous Estadi Ciutat de València, was an exhibition from both teams, alternating between dazzling football and nail-biting drama.
Yet, Barcelona was the one that faltered early in the game. Only 15 minutes into the match, Levante went ahead when Ivan Romero found the net after Lamine Yamal lost the ball on a defensive counterattack. Right before the half, Jose Luis Morales converted a penalty kick, extending Levante’s lead to 2-0. The penalty was given when Alejandro Balde handled the ball, resulting in a 2-0 deficit for Barcelona at halftime.
The second 45 minutes brought about an extreme shift of fortunes for Barcelona. Pedri Gonzalez ignited the comeback just minutes after the restart, scoring in the 49th minute with a powerful shot from outside the box. This early goal injected Barcelona with a new belief and they were relentless in their pursuit of more.
Ferran Torres was perhaps unlucky not to have scored already in the opening 45 when he hit the woodwork. Carlisle came close on multiple occasions until, in the 52nd minute, he finally found the net. His persistence brought a reward as he intercepted an errant pass and slotted home the second goal perfectly.
Late Drama Seals Victory
The most decisive moment of the match came late in the second half when Lamine Yamal whipped an incredible cross into Levante’s 6-yard box. Unai Elgezabal’s unlucky header looped right over his own keeper. That mistake proved pivotal, putting Barcelona in the driver’s seat with a 3–2 aggregate lead on the road.
This victory very much embodied Barcelona’s fighting spirit and showcased Barca’s attacking potential with new additions. For Marcus Rashford, it was his first league start for Barcelona since joining on loan from Manchester United. He excelled as a left-sided forward in a fluid attacking setup, with coach Hansi Flick praising the forward’s impact on the game.
“I think Marcus [Rashford] had some situations in the first half where he showed how good he is and how he can help us, and that is how we have to continue,” – Hansi Flick
The win comes as a positive reassurance for Barcelona, after their strong 3-0 win over Mallorca last week opened up their league season.
Next Challenges Ahead
As Barcelona head into their next elimination round challenge, they will visit Rayo Vallecano next week to resume their title defense in LaLiga. The squad is looking for a fourth win in a row, hoping to build on this big comeback victory over Levante.
With players like Pedri and Torres stepping up in crucial moments, along with the return of Robert Lewandowski from injury as a late substitute, the squad looks well-equipped to tackle upcoming fixtures. Production teammates are moving through the process in lock-step. With young talents like Lamine Yamal bursting on to the scene, Barcelona fans should be looking forward to an exciting campaign!
