Ansu Fati scored his first league goals in more than four months
Teenager Ansu Fati scored twice to give Barcelona victory over Levante and reduce the gap to La Liga leaders Real Madrid to three points.
The 17-year-old raced clear for the first goal, then fired home from an angle inside the penalty area.
Levante rallied in the second half but their pressure did not pay off until stoppage time.
Ruben Rochina’s half-volley from 25 yards took a deflection to wrong-foot Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
If Ter Stegen perhaps could have done better, the same can be said of opposite number Aitor Fernandez, who was twice beaten through his legs by Fati.
For both goals, Fati was fed by Lionel Messi, who first picked out a superb cross-field ball, then jinked across the face of the 18-yard box.
Levante beat Barca 3-1 defeat at home in November but have never taken a point from the Nou Camp.
- Line-ups
- Match Stats
- Live Text
Line-ups
Barcelona
- 1ter Stegen
- 2Nรฉlson Semedo
- 3PiquรฉBooked at 65mins
- 15Lenglet
- 18AlbaBooked at 65mins
- 21de JongSubstituted forArthurat 80'minutes
- 5Busquets
- 4Rakitic
- 10Messi
- 17GriezmannSubstituted forRobertoat 71'minutes
- 31FatiSubstituted forPuigat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Arthur
- 20Roberto
- 23Umtiti
- 24Firpo
- 26Peรฑa
- 28Puig
- 30Collado
Levante
- 13Fernรกndez
- 20Miramรณn
- 15Postigo
- 14Nunes Vezo
- 3Garcรญa Aranda
- 16Rochina
- 22MeleroSubstituted forSantos Fortesat 60'minutes
- 17VukcevicSubstituted forBardhiat 80'minutes
- 24Campaรฑa
- 11MoralesSubstituted forMayoralat 60'minutes
- 9Martรญ
Substitutes
- 6Duarte
- 8Santos Fortes
- 10Bardhi
- 19Clerc
- 21Mayoral
- 23Andรบjar Moreno
- 26Cรกrdenas
Referee:Adriรกn Cordero VegaAttendance:60,295
Match Stats
Home TeamBarcelonaAway TeamLevantePossessionHome67%Away33%ShotsHome23Away10Shots on TargetHome9Away5CornersHome8Away3FoulsHome6Away10
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Barcelona 2, Levante 1.
