Tag: Levante

Barcelona cruised to a 3-0 victory over Levante at Camp Nou to reclaim pole position in La Liga on Sunday.

After Real Madrid fell to a 2-1 defeat at Osasuna on Saturday, Hansi Flick’s side moved a point clear of their bitter rivals with a comfortable victory at Camp Nou against the team in 19th.

Marc Bernal and Frenkie de Jong gave Barca a commanding first-half lead, and Fermin Lopez wrapped up the win with a sensational drive late on.

Barcelona were glad to get back to winning ways after a 4-0 thrashing by Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg last week and then a 2-1 defeat by Girona on Monday in La Liga.

“It was a really bad moment for us, but in the end today we gave a good response,” Flick told reporters. “It’s important now to be on top of the table, but in the end, there’s a long way to go.”

Despite Flick’s calls for improvement in defence, Barca were as open as ever, although Levante’s poor finishing meant they could not capitalise.

Bernal sent Barcelona ahead after good work by Joao Cancelo, who impressed on a rare start after his arrival on loan in January, and Eric Garcia.

It was Bernal’s second goal since returning from a long-term knee injury, which kept the 18-year-old out of action for over a year.

“I thought of my father (in my celebration) and my physio — he told me I would score, and he has helped me a lot in this process,” Bernal told Movistar.

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Veteran Polish forward Robert Lewandowski could have doubled Barca’s advantage but fired into the ground and over the bar when well placed.

Cancelo hit the post with a cross aimed at Lewandowski, before the Portuguese defender carved out the second for De Jong with a similar ball in from the left.

De Jong delivered the finishing touch to give Barca a two-goal lead at the break.

“Joao today showed his strength, his positive things, he gave us a lot of moments, great chances, for me it was a really good game from him, and this is what I want to see,” said Flick.

Garcia should have expanded Barcelona’s advantage early in the second half but nodded wide from Jules Kounde’s tempting cross.

Eventually, substitute Lopez got a spectacular third, rattling home a long-range effort in off the post.

The midfielder might have added a fourth late on, but Levante goalkeeper Mathew Ryan denied him with an excellent reflex save, after first thwarting Raphinha.

Flick was able to bring back midfielder Pedri as a substitute after a month out with a hamstring injury, with the Spaniard likely to be key in the testing weeks ahead.

Defeat leaves Levante seven points from safety.

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Barcelona coach Hansi Flick told his team they must feel responsibility after two damaging defeats ahead of Sunday’s clash against Levante in La Liga.

The Catalan giants are bolstered by the return of Pedri Gonzalez and Marcus Rashford after injury as they aim to overhaul Real Madrid in the Spanish title race.

After a 4-0 thrashing by Atletico Madrid last week in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, Barca fell to a 2-1 league defeat against Girona on Monday, giving Los Blancos a two-point advantage at the summit.

“I think everyone is convinced about what we are doing, of course in these moments it’s not easy,” Flick told reporters Saturday.

“For me, communication is always important. We were very honest and also very open, it’s not only me telling them what to do, I want to ask them. This is how I manage the team.

“It is important because we need leaders on the pitch, they should (be able) to say something. That’s how communication is, on the same eye-level.

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“At the end, I have to decide things, that is my job, but I want the players to feel the responsibility about this situation, and I think they do.”

Rashford returns after a fortnight out with a knee problem, while key playmaker Pedri has missed a month with a hamstring injury.

“The positive thing is Rashford is back, Pedri is back,” said Flick.

“Maybe (Pedri) can play some minutes, the important thing is he’s training, with his quality.

“He’s an important player for us, he’s a different kind of leader because of his quality.

“He can also be one of these leaders for the future for this club.”

Flick also confirmed 21-year-old midfielder Gavi is back in training after undergoing knee surgery in September 2025.

Real Madrid visit Osasuna on Saturday, aiming to stretch their lead on Barca before Levante visit Camp Nou.

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French striker Kylian Mbappe struck twice as Real Madrid extended their winning start to La Liga with a comfortable 4-1 triumph at Levante on Tuesday.

With these two goals, Mbappe has reached seven league goals in six matches as Xabi Alonso’s side maintained their 100 percent record.

Vinicius Junior opened the scoring with a superb finish, and Franco Mastantuono was also on target for the league leaders.

Second-placed Barcelona visit Real Oviedo on Thursday, with the Spanish champions trailing Madrid by five points.

“It was a very good game, from the start, we were really committed in defence and the first goal was fundamental, to go ahead and give us confidence,” said Alonso.

Vinicius was unhappy to be taken off by Alonso during the win over Espanyol on Saturday, but the Brazilian winger started on the left flank and delivered.

Since coming second to Manchester City’s Rodri in last year’s Ballon d’Or rankings, Vinicius has struggled for consistency.

However, he found his rhythm at the Ciutat de Valencia stadium and opened the scoring after 28 minutes, following a bright start to the game.

“Vini had a very complete, very good game, and I am very happy for him,” said Alonso.

Valencia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan made a good save to deny Vinicius, and Mastantuono hit the bar from the rebound as Los Blancos threatened in the opening stages.

Then fed by Fede Valverde on the right of the box, Vinicius used the outside of his right boot to bend a sumptuous effort in at the far post.

Ivan Romero and Adrian de la Fuente came close early for Levante, but they were forced back, and Madrid found their second when Vinicius set up Mastantuono, who rifled into the top corner.

It was the promising 18-year-old attacker’s first goal for the club since his summer switch from River Plate.

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Ryan denied Vinicius with a good stop from close range before half-time.

Levante striker Karl Etta Eyong, in fine form himself at the start of the season, nodded home his fourth goal from close range after Romero’s cross was deflected and looped into the air.

It offered Levante a brief glimmer of hope, but that was quickly quashed by Mbappe.

Unai Elgezabal clumsily brought down the French superstar in the box, and Mbappe cheekily dinked the resulting penalty down the middle for the third.

Then, two minutes later, the forward, released by Arda Guler, rounded Ryan and tapped home his second of the night.

Mbappe struggled in his first few months at Madrid after joining from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024, but hit top form in the second half of the season.

The striker has carried that into the new campaign and has nine goals in seven games across all competitions, helping Madrid start the campaign in ideal fashion.

“There are still things we can do better, but we’re on a good path and we have to continue along it,” said Alonso, with Los Blancos facing city rivals Atletico on Saturday.

“We’re in a construction phase… there’s still a lot we have to do.

“We’re building a solid base, and on the team, many players feel connected and important.”

Villarreal earned a late 2-1 win at Sevilla to rise to third in the table, above fourth-placed Espanyol, who drew 2-2 with Valencia.

Bottom side Girona earned a creditable 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao, fifth.

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