FULL-TIME: Levante 2-3 FC Barcelona
90+2′ MIN: Drama at the death!!! Jordi Alba sends a superb cross into the box. Luuk de Jong latches on to it and from close range plants a header into the bottom left corner, leaving Dani Cardenas beaten. He displayed his eye for goal there – excellent finish.
GOOOAAALLL!!! Levante 2-3 FC Barcelona (L. de Jong)
83′ MIN: Gonzalo Melero smoothly converts the penalty with a beautiful low drive into the left side of the net.
GOOOAAALLL!!! Levante 2-2 FC Barcelona (G. Melero)
82′ MIN: Poor challenge! Clement Lenglet is penalised for tripping and referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero blows his whistle. PENALTY AWARDED to Levante!
PENALTY!!! To Levante
63′ MIN: Gavi plays a short, square pass into the path of Pedri who bends a shot straight into the bottom left corner.
GOOOAAALLL!!! Levante 1-2 FC Barcelona (Pedri)
59′ MIN: The visitors are level! Ousmane Dembele shows his great technique and produces a beautiful cross into the box and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gets on the scoresheet by heading the ball precisely inside the right post.
GOOOAAALLL!!! Levante 1-1 FC Barcelona (P. E. Aubameyang)
56′ MIN: Roger Marti has a great chance to score from the penalty. He shoots to the bottom left corner, but Marc-Andre ter Stegen leaps out to thwart his attempt.
PENALTY MISSED!!!
55′ MIN: A huge scoring opportunity for Levante. The referee blows his whistle after Nico does a good impression of a basketball player and handles the ball.
PENALTY!!! To Levante
52′ MIN: That’s a great strike from the spot by Jose Luis Morales into the right of the net, giving goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen no chance!
GOOOAAALLL!!! Levante 1-0 FC Barcelona (J. L. Morales)
51′ MIN: Dani Alves makes an unfair challenge by holding his opponent to prevent him from getting the ball. The advantage of a penalty kick is given to Levante.
PENALTY!!! To Levante
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY: Levante 0-0 FC Barcelona
HALF-TIME: Levante 0-0 FC Barcelona
KICK-OFF: Levante 0-0 FC Barcelona
Meanwhile, experienced left-back Jordi Alba has achieved a new milestone, as he has moved into the top-ten of Barcelona’s all-time appearance list.
Barca gaffer Xavi Hernandez has named a strong line-up which he hopes will get all three points away at Levante.
Despite failing to win until the 20th game, Levante are still harbouring hopes of avoiding a first La Liga relegation since 2015/16. The momentum from their previous seven league games (W3, D2, L2) is driving those survival hopes and of avenging September’s 3-0 loss against Barcelona in the reverse fixture.
In addition to targeting their first consecutive La Liga wins since July 2020, Levante are also unbeaten in three home matches (W2, D1), including a 2-0 win over UEFA Champions League quarter-finalists Villarreal. A win might actually not be such a fanciful idea, considering they own a fine record of just one loss at home to Barcelona since returning to the top-flight in 2017 (W3, D1).
Strong away performances have been the hallmark of Barcelona’s recent success, with three straight away league wins seeing them score 2+ goals. It could be a tough defensive test here though, as Barcelona have failed to keep a clean sheet in ten of their last 13 away La Liga games, as well as conceding 13 goals at Levante across their last five visits!
With Barcelona’s UEFA Europa League progress still in the balance after a 1-1 draw in Frankfurt, and the reverse fixture scheduled next week, manager Xavi Hernández could be tested on his domestic priorities despite having a game in hand. They can’t afford a loss here however, as it could potentially drag them down to fourth, despite their unbeaten 14-game LL run (W10, D4 – including six straight wins) giving Barça control of their top-four destiny.
Hi guys…you are on to Apex Football’s LIVE updates of the La Liga Santander fixture involving Levante and Catalan outfit FC Barcelona.
So interesting to see the improvement in Barcelona by the New Coach, May Almighty God continue to take him higher.
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