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Barcelona extended their flawless opening to the campaign with an eventful 4-2 victory over Levante in Valencia, driven by a two-goal performance from winger Lamine Yamal. The hard-fought triumph ensured that the Catalan giants retained their spot at the summit of the La Liga table, navigating through a chaotic second half to secure all three points.
The result marks a pristine record for manager Hansi Flick’s squad, who have now collected five consecutive league victories to sit on fifteen points. With their fifth league win from as many fixtures, Barcelona established a three-point cushion over second-placed Real Madrid at the top of the standings, while pushing their overall winning run to six straight matches across all competitions.
The visitors wasted little time establishing control in Valencia, finding the breakthrough just five minutes into the encounter. A fluid, one-touch passing combination opened up space on the edge of the penalty area, allowing 19-year-old Xavi Espart to drive a shot towards goal that took a slight deflection before crossing the line for his first senior goal.
Continuing to dominate possession, Barcelona extended their advantage in the 19th minute with a well-worked offensive sequence. Midfielder Fermin Lopez picked out Raphinha with an incisive through ball, and the Brazilian winger controlled the pass before squaring the ball into the centre of the box for an unmarked Yamal to slot home from close range.
Despite finding themselves in a two-goal hole early on, Levante gradually found their footing as the first half progressed. The hosts ramped up the pressure and troubled Barcelona's defensive setup, finishing the opening forty-five minutes with six goal attempts compared to Barcelona's three, although they were unable to manufacture a clear-cut opening before the interval.
Flick made an enforced tactical adjustment during the half-time break, withdrawing defender Gerard Martin, who was visibly limping, and introducing Andreas Christensen to shore up the backline. The substitution paid immediate dividends as Barcelona swiftly seized momentum right from the opening whistle of the second half.
Only 42 seconds after the restart, Yamal was brought down inside the box by Levante defender Aissa Mandi, prompting the referee to award a penalty. The teenage winger stepped up to convert the spot kick with composure, registering his second goal of the match and completing his third brace of the La Liga season to dampen the hosts' hopes of a fightback.
Levante refused to capitulate and came agonisingly close to reducing the deficit on the hour mark. Forward Victor Garcia managed to slip his effort past goalkeeper Joan Garcia, but a crucial partial intervention from Pau Cubarsi followed by a goal-line clearance from Christensen prevented the ball from crossing the line.
The hosts were eventually rewarded for their persistence in the 79th minute following a defensive lapse from the visitors. An errant pass from Espart was pounced upon by Levante attacker Ivan Romero, who rounded Joan Garcia and rolled the ball into an empty net to give the home side a lifeline.
The contest tightened considerably in the 88th minute when Roger Brugue carved his way through multiple Barcelona challenges inside the penalty area. Brugue’s determined finish pulled Levante within a single goal, setting up a frantic conclusion as an improbable comeback suddenly appeared within reach for the hosts.
Barcelona extinguished any remaining suspense in the 93rd minute through substitute Karim Adeyemi. The German forward embarked on a mazy solo run through Levante's retreating defence before executing a composed finish to seal the 4-2 scoreline, drawing chants of "Levante" from the appreciative home crowd in recognition of their team's spirited resilience.
Beyond the goalscorers, Barcelona’s victory was anchored by an assured midfield display from Rodri alongside relentless energy and leadership from captain Raphinha. The victory demonstrated the league leaders' ability to withstand late pressure in hostile territory while maintaining their unblemished domestic run.
Elsewhere in Spanish top-flight action, Atletico Madrid relied on a late attacking surge to secure a 3-0 win over Real Sociedad, successfully snapping a two-match losing streak. Diego Simeone’s side managed the victory despite missing key figures Julian Alvarez and Pablo Barrios, who were both sidelined due to muscle injuries.
Following a largely cagey affair, Atletico broke the deadlock in the 84th minute through a penalty converted by new arrival Alejandro Grimaldo. Fellow summer recruit Jonathan David then doubled the advantage on a counter-attack in the 90th minute, before Giuliano Simeone added a third in the 95th minute to wrap up the points with maiden goals for both Grimaldo and David.
The weekend’s other fixtures featured hard-fought stalemates, with Malaga salvaging a 1-1 draw against a dominant Celta Vigo side at Balaidos. Meanwhile, Deportivo A Coruna also collected a point on home soil, fighting back from a second-half deficit to earn a 1-1 draw against Getafe.
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