Yamal Brace Helps Barcelona Survive Levante Scare in Valencia

Lamine Yamal scored twice, while Xavi Espart netted his first senior Barcelona goal and substitute Karim Adeyemi struck in stoppage time. Ivan Romero and Roger Brugue scored for Levante after the hosts had fallen three goals behind.

Hansi Flick's side have now won each of their opening five league matches, continuing the impressive start to their title defence.

Barcelona entered the contest having taken 12 points from their opening four LaLiga fixtures and scored 17 goals, while their midweek 5-1 Champions League victory over Feyenoord had further underlined their prolific early-season form.

It took the visitors only five minutes to establish control.

Raphinha received possession around the edge of the penalty area and played a short pass towards Espart.

The youngster took a touch to create space before guiding a precise right-footed finish into the bottom-left corner beyond Mat Ryan.

It was Espart's first professional goal in his 12th appearance for Barcelona's senior team.

Barcelona continued dominating possession, with Levante forced deep inside their own half during the opening stages.

Yamal came close to adding another after working his way into the penalty area, but Ryan denied him from a difficult angle.

The teenage winger did not have to wait much longer.

In the 19th minute, Barcelona launched a quick attack that ended with Raphinha racing towards the left byline.

The Brazilian delivered a low cross into the area and Yamal timed his run perfectly before stabbing a first-time finish into the roof of the net for 2-0.

It was Yamal's fifth LaLiga goal of the campaign, while Raphinha had now directly contributed to nine league goals through six goals and three assists during Barcelona's opening five matches.

Levante gradually grew into the contest after Barcelona's explosive start.

Roger Brugue tested Joan Garcia following a set-piece, while Victor Garcia almost reached an inviting cross at the back post before Espart produced a crucial defensive intervention.

Barcelona's intensity dropped as the half progressed, allowing Luis Castro's side to enjoy more possession and spend longer periods inside the visitors' half.

The Catalan champions nevertheless reached the interval with a 2-0 advantage.

Barcelona had produced only three first-half attempts but generated 0.92 expected goals, compared with Levante's 0.41, highlighting their clinical finishing during the opening period.

The second half began after a brief delay caused by a medical emergency in the crowd.

Within seconds of the restart, Barcelona were awarded a penalty when Aissa Mandi was adjudged to have handled the ball before bringing Yamal down inside the area.

Yamal took responsibility himself.

He confidently dispatched the penalty into the top-left corner in the 48th minute, leaving Ryan with little chance and putting Barcelona 3-0 ahead.

At that stage, another emphatic Barcelona victory appeared inevitable.

The visitors had scored with their first three shots on target and enjoyed overwhelming territorial control, but Levante refused to allow the game to drift away.

Castro made several changes around the hour mark in an attempt to inject energy into his side, including the introduction of Romero.

The substitute almost made an immediate impact when Victor Garcia's work created an opportunity inside the area, but Andreas Christensen intervened.

Flick also began rotating his squad.

Dani Olmo replaced Yamal, Marc Bernal came on for Pedri and Adeyemi was introduced in place of Anthony Gordon as Barcelona attempted to manage their advantage.

Levante finally found their breakthrough in the 79th minute, although Barcelona contributed heavily to their own problems.

Espart attempted to play the ball across his own penalty area but misplaced his pass.

Romero reacted immediately, rounded Joan Garcia and calmly rolled the ball into an empty net to reduce Barcelona's advantage to 3-1.

The goal transformed the mood inside the stadium.

Levante pushed forward with renewed belief while Barcelona suddenly found themselves defending closer to their own penalty area.

Nine minutes later, the hosts struck again.

Brugue battled his way past Bernal near the left touchline before driving into the penalty area.

The Levante captain maintained possession under pressure and, at the second attempt, beat Garcia from close range to make it 3-2.

A match Barcelona appeared to have settled was suddenly alive again.

Levante's supporters sensed the possibility of a remarkable comeback as six minutes of stoppage time were announced.

Barcelona, however, possessed one final attacking response.

Bernal found Adeyemi on the left touchline in the third minute of added time.

The Germany international accelerated towards the penalty area, drove beyond the Levante defence and calmly beat Ryan with a right-footed finish into the bottom-left corner.

The goal ended Levante's comeback hopes and restored Barcelona's two-goal advantage at 4-2.

The final whistle confirmed Barcelona's fifth victory from five LaLiga matches and ended Levante's lengthy unbeaten home run.

The hosts had gone eight league home games without defeat before Barcelona's visit, winning seven and drawing one.

For Barcelona, the afternoon offered both encouragement and a warning.

Their attacking quality was again evident, particularly through the combination of Raphinha and Yamal.

Raphinha created the opening two goals, while Yamal scored twice and was voted man of the match by 68 percent of supporters in the post-match poll.

Espart also enjoyed a memorable afternoon with his first senior goal, although his mistake for Romero's strike provided Levante with the opening they needed to mount their late challenge.

Adeyemi then demonstrated Barcelona's considerable attacking depth by emerging from the bench to produce the goal that finally killed off the contest.

Flick will be pleased with another victory and four more goals, but the manner in which his side allowed a seemingly comfortable 3-0 lead to become 3-2 will provide something to address.

For now, though, Barcelona remain perfect in LaLiga after five matches and continue setting the pace at the top of Spanish football.