Barcelona produced a dramatic comeback to beat Levante 3-2 in Valencia on Saturday night, with the winning goal arriving in the 92nd minute.
The game turned when home defender Unai Elgezabal accidentally headed Lamine Yamal’s curling cross into his own net, sealing a second straight win for the defending champions.
Marcus Rashford made his first La Liga start since joining on loan from Manchester United but was substituted at half-time with Barca trailing 0-2. A poor first half left the Catalans exposed, as Levante repeatedly punished their high defensive line.
The hosts struck first in the 15th minute through Ivan Romero, who finished off a sharp counter-attack. Just before half-time, Jose Luis Morales doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Alejandro Balde’s handball inside the box.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick responded with changes at the break, including replacing Rashford with Dani Olmo. The impact was immediate. In the 48th minute, Pedri unleashed a thunderous long-range shot into the top corner to make it 2-1. Just three minutes later, Ferran Torres equalised with a clever finish from a corner.
With momentum swinging their way, Barca controlled the second half. Robert Lewandowski returned from injury, while Yamal remained a constant threat on the right wing. In stoppage time, the 17-year-old’s dangerous cross forced the decisive own goal, securing three points for Flick’s men.
Rashford’s La Liga debut didn’t go as planned, with Barcelona two goals down when he was taken off. However, it would be unfair to pin the struggles on him alone. The entire defence looked shaky without veteran Inigo Martinez, who left for Saudi club Al Nassr this summer.
Levante repeatedly exploited the lack of organisation in Barca’s high backline, something Flick must address quickly if the team is to defend their title. Andreas Christensen could be the player to step up and bring more stability at the back.
Still, the resilience shown after half-time, led by Pedri and Yamal, highlights why Barcelona remain strong contenders in La Liga 2025.
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