Yamal Brace And Late Adeyemi Strike See Barcelona Past Levante
Lamine Yamal scored twice, including a second-half penalty, as Barcelona held off a Levante fightback to win 4-2 away from home and keep their perfect start to the La Liga season intact.
Espart And Yamal Put Barcelona In Control Early
Barcelona made a fast start at the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia, going ahead inside five minutes when defender Xavi Espart scored his first goal as a professional with a right-footed shot into the bottom corner. Lamine Yamal doubled the lead in the 19th minute, finishing from close range after being played in by a low cross from Raphinha, and Barcelona carried a two-goal cushion into the interval.
A Contested Penalty Makes It Three Before Levante Rally
Yamal added his second of the afternoon midway through the second half, converting a penalty awarded after Levante defender Aissa Mandi appeared to handle the ball before bringing the forward down in the box, to make it 3-0. The decision was disputed afterward by several Spanish football pundits, including radio analysts on COPE and Cadena SER, who argued the contact did not merit a spot-kick. Levante responded in the 79th minute when a misplaced pass from Espart across his own area was intercepted by substitute Ivan Romero, who rolled the ball into an empty net, and the hosts pulled level for a moment of late hope when Roger Brugue scored from close range with two minutes of normal time remaining to make it 3-2.
Adeyemi Settles It In Stoppage Time
Barcelona restored their two-goal cushion in the third minute of added time, when a pass from substitute Marc Bernal sent Karim Adeyemi away down the left; the forward drove into the box and finished low past Ryan to make the final score 4-2. The result kept Barcelona unbeaten through five league matches this season and saw them move three points clear of Real Madrid, who had beaten Rayo Vallecano the previous day.
Photo: X-@Anpic4k