FC Barcelona kept their flawless record intact this season with a hard-fought 4-2 La Liga victory over Levante on Sunday, extending their perfect run to six wins from six across all competitions. The result leaves Barcelona alone at the top of the Spanish top flight with five league wins from five, sitting three points clear of rivals Real Madrid.
The Catalan side made a blistering start at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia in the eastern Spanish city, with 19-year-old Xavi Espart opening the scoring after just five minutes, finishing crisply from the edge of the box via a slight deflection for his first senior goal. Lamine Yamal, the teenage Spanish winger who has quickly become one of the team's central figures, then doubled the advantage in the 19th minute after being picked out unmarked by Raphinha. Yamal added a penalty early in the second half to complete his third double of the league season, while German winger Karim Adeyemi sealed the result with a composed finish in stoppage time.
The match was far from straightforward, however. Levante — a club from Valencia competing in La Liga after promotion — grew into the game and mounted a spirited late comeback, pulling goals back through Iván Romero and Roger Brugué to make it 3-2 before Adeyemi's decisive strike. The home crowd responded warmly to their side's fighting spirit, chanting the club's name even as the final whistle confirmed defeat.
Manager Hansi Flick was forced into an early defensive adjustment when Gerard Martin was withdrawn at half-time, replaced by Andreas Christensen, who produced a vital goal-line clearance at a critical moment. Midfield anchor Rodri and captain Raphinha were central to Barcelona's control throughout, even as the team's tempo dipped in the closing stages.
The result underlines Barcelona's formidable early-season momentum. With rivals including Atlético Madrid — who needed three late goals to beat Real Sociedad 3-0 — still finding their rhythm, Flick's side appear well-placed to set the pace in what promises to be a competitive title race. For Levante, the narrow margin and the crowd's reaction suggest the club, despite the defeat, is earning respect as a competitive force in their return to the top division.