Fresh from breaking their club transfer record for Philippe Coutinho, Barcelona maintained their nine-point gap at the top of La Liga with a 3-0 win over Levante. The competition has its work cut out stopping this turning into a procession.
Coutinho stayed away from this one so as not to take any of the attention away from the players on the pitch. Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Paulinho made sure that’s exactly where the focus stayed.
Messi marked his 400th league game by scoring his 365th goal. Suarez made it six goals in seven league matches. He is now the club’s fourth all-time top scorer with 131 goals – one more than Rivaldo – and his first-half strike was also his 400th career goal.
Lionel Messi got Barcelona off the mark after 12 minutes when he got on the end of a Jordi Alba header
Messi struck the ball with his left foot on the volley, sending it into the ground before beating Oier at his far post
Messi runs away in celebration after putting his side 1-0 up against Levante who came into the game in poor form
Levante came into the game having only won one of their last 11 and set their very physical stall out early when Jefferson Lerma went into the book for going straight through Messi.
On 11 minutes Barcelona had the lead when Jordi Alba headed the ball down and Messi finished with a shot off the post. No one has set-up Messi up for more goals in this campaign.
Messi then crossed from the byline but Suarez’s shot was pushed away by Levante’s former Barcelona keeper Oier Olazábal.
Dembele was making his first start since he was sidelined for three and a half months with a tendon injury.
He made a shaky return as a substitute in midweek coming on for 20 minutes in the cup and putting a pass straight out of play and weakly toe-poking his only chance straight at the keeper.
Luis Suarez doubled his side’s lead shortly before half-time when he reacted quickest in the Levante penalty area
Suarez’s strike took a deflection off Levante central defender Sergio Postigo before looping over the top of the goalkeeper
Suarez celebrates doubling Barcelona’s advantage as Ernesto Valverde’s side made things comfortable before half-time
He had looked nervous early-on in this one but then had a fiercely-struck shot well saved and Suarez almost converted the rebound. The Barcelona singing section belted out a Dembele song to mark the moment.
Lerma clattered into Paulinho, and Andres Iniesta reminded the referee that he had already been booked. Carlos del Cerro kept his cards in his pocket this time but he did caution Postigo for scything down Messi on the edge of the area moments later. Messi’s free-kick whistled just over.
When the second Barça goal came it was very route-one. Mascherano’s long ball forward found Sergio Roberto whose first time cross found Suarez who thumped it home.
Rakitic almost added a third before the break shooting just wide after Messi, surrounded by five Levante players on the edge of the area, had some how still managed to cleverly flick the ball up and dink it to the Croatian.
Barcelona manager Valverde delivers instructions to his side during the first half at the Nou Camp on Sunday afternoon
Messi attempts to add a third goal only for the Levante goalkeeper to deny him as Barcelona took control in the game
Barcelona’s Paulinho goes close but can’t force his effort over the line as Levante’s defence scramble to get back
Barcelona went direct again with their next attack and this time Messi went close from Rakitic’s pass.
Levante started the second half strongly with Ivy skipping around Dembele and forcing Ter Stegen into a save. But Barcelona soon began to dominate once more and Oier saved well from Suarez.
Both Dembele and Iniesta were taken off by Ernesto Valverde keen to protect the Frenchman from overstretching after his injury and keeping Iniesta fresh for bigger battles ahead. That will be a lot easier to do once Coutinho is ready to play.
Messi hit the post with four minutes left but the flag was raised so it would not have counted. One fine tackle from Thomas Vermaelen snuffed out Levante’s best second half attack – his majestic form is another sign of Barça’s rude health. Paulinho stabbed in the third from Messi’s cross in injury time.
Barcelona have now played every team bar Real Sociedad who they face next week. It’s half time in La Liga. They look invincible and the second most expensive player in history has just signed for them and will be presented.
Barcelona’s Nou Camp wasn’t full as the La Liga leaders entertained 16th place Levante at home on Sunday afternoon