Summary

  • Barcelona aiming for third league win of season

  • Ronald Koeman's side are eight points behind leaders Real Madrid

  • Real were held by Villarreal on Saturday

  1. FULL-TIMEpublished at 17:09 British Summer Time 26 September 2021

    Barcelona 3-0 Levante

    All over!

    The pressure was increasing on Ronald Koeman, but it's been a very good day for the absent Barca boss.

    His side are up to fifth in La Liga, five points behind Real Madrid with one game in hand.

    A step in the right direction.

  2. Postpublished at 90+2 mins

    Barcelona 3-0 Levante

    There's a great atmosphere at the Nou Camp as the clock ticks down.

    Three goals, three points and a goal for Ansu Fati on his return.

    Barcelona have been far too good for Levante today.

  3. goal

    GOAL - Barcelona 3-0 Levantepublished at 90 mins

    Ansu Fati

    He's back!

    Barcelona's new number 10 produces a fine finish to mark his return from injury and complete a very good afternoon for Barcelona.

    Four minutes of injury time to go.

  4. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 88 mins

    Barcelona 2-0 Levante

    Just a couple of minutes to go and there's no suggestion that Levante will be mounting a late fightback here.

    Sergino Dest comes off after a superb display, replaced by Clement Lenglet.

  5. Postpublished at 85 mins

    Barcelona 2-0 Levante

    Welcome back Ansu Fati! The 18-year-old breaks into the area with some quick footwork and goes down in the box! Is that a penalty? It looked a foul, but the referee isn't interested...

  6. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 82 mins

    Barcelona 2-0 Levante

    The moment the Barcelona fans were waiting for. Ansu Fati returns to La Liga for the first time since November 2020.

    Yusuf Demir and Ronald Araujo also come in as Luuk de Jong, Oscar Mingueza and Pablo Gaviria make way.

  7. CLOSE!published at 80 mins

    Barcelona 2-0 Levante

    Almost a second for Luuk de Jong, who rises highest to meet a cross from the left but heads just over.

    Here come the Barcelona changes...

  8. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 78 mins

    Barcelona 2-0 Levante

    Another Levante change. Shkodran Mustafi's day is done. Rober Pier comes in.

    It looks like Ansu Fati will soon be joining the action too.

  9. Postpublished at 76 mins

    Barcelona 2-0 Levante

    Sergio Postigo recovers well to cut out a ball across the six yard box as Luuk de Jong threatened to pull the trigger.

  10. Postpublished at 73 mins

    Barcelona 2-0 Levante

    A first half-chance for Levante arrives after 73 minutes. Jose Luis Morales gets to a pass inside the Barcelona box but, shouldered by two Barcelona defenders, the ball rolls into the hands of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

  11. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 70 mins

    Barcelona 2-0 Levante

    Another double change by Levante boss Paco Lopez.

    Nikola Vukcevic and Alejandro Cantero are brought on for Pepelu and Jorge de Frutos.

    The Barcelona fans are still cheering Ansu Fati's warm up in anticipation of his introduction.

  12. Postpublished at 68 mins

    Barcelona 2-0 Levante

    Memphis Depay weaves inside and takes aim with his left foot, but his shot is blocked. Good defending in the end.

    Moments later, substitute Riqui Puig moves clear in the Levante box but a heavy touch allows Aitor Fernandez to halt his progress.

  13. Postpublished at 65 mins

    Barcelona 2-0 Levante

    Teenager Nicolas Gonzalez runs on to a loose ball and blasts a shot from 25 yards. It's well off target, but Barcelona's young players don't look short of confidence.

  14. Postpublished at 62 mins

    Barcelona 2-0 Levante

    Less than half an hour to play now and it's still looking like it's set to be a rather comfortable afternoon for Barcelona.

    Still no attempts from Levante.

  15. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 59 mins

    Barcelona 2-0 Levante

    The Nou Camp gives Riqui Puig a warm welcome as the 22-year-old replaces Philippe Coutinho.

    The sight of long-term absentee Ansu Fati warming up on the sidelines also gets plenty of applause from the home support.

    What crisis?

  16. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 56 mins

    Barcelona 2-0 Levante

    Changes for Levante.

    Pablo Martinez and Jose Luis Morales replace Nemanja Radoja and Dani Gomez. The visitors need a lift.

  17. Postpublished at 53 mins

    Barcelona 2-0 Levante

    Another shot from Depay, another save from Fernandez. The second half is unfolding exactly like the first. Dare I say it, Barcelona are starting to look a bit like Barcelona.

  18. GREAT SAVE!published at 50 mins

    Barcelona 2-0 Levante

    Aitor Fernandez is beginning to prove a bit of a nuisance to Memphis Depay. The Barcelona forward drives a low shot from the edge of the box but the Levante keeper gets across to prevent it sneaking into the bottom corner.

  19. Postpublished at 47 mins

    Barcelona 2-0 Levante

    Sergino Dest plays his way out of trouble as Barcelona launch a counter-attack following early Levante pressure, but the move fizzles out. Will we see a bit more from Levante in this half? They're getting closer to equalling their worst-ever La Liga winless run with every minute.