Barcelona thrash ten man Levante

Barcelona thrash ten man Levante

Neymar, Messi, Rakitic, Sandro Ramirez and Pedro all scored as Barcelona returned to the top of the summit of La Liga table.

The game started with coach Luis Enrique starting most of the regulars after a midweek champions league game. Front three of Neymar Messi and Pedro was assigned to create havoc for this game with Iniesta Busquets and Rakitic starting in the midfield. The game started with Barca having major piece of possession. With both Pedro and Neymar acting as inside forwards, Messi dropped deep to pick the ball up and supply his team mates with the killer final ball. And Messi was largely successful as he assisted Ramirez for his goal. Neymar opened the scoring charts at 34min. Barca could have taken an early lead, if only Mathieu not stabbed the ball wide.

French man Mathieu and Croatian Rakitic where decent defensively as they saved the day for Barca. It was a strange first half with both sides not able to imposing themselves, with Barca happy keelinfinishesll and Levante happy to give them the ball, with a few wayward finishes until Messi found the Brazilian for his goal. The decision to send Lucas Vyntra off looked harsh as Barcelona were awarded penalty. With Leo Messi missing it. The game was still open with Levante still counter attacking Barca, until Rakitic rifled a shot in the bottom corner of the net just before halftime which earned a much needed breathing space for the Catalan club. 

With just 12 mins in the second half, Ramirez made it 3-0. With a pass from Messi as the substitute made no mistake as he slided it through the keeper. With goals four and five as insignificant as any, the struggling ten man Levante side had already given hope. Pedro scored his first for this season as even Leo Messi got on the score sheet after missing a penalty in the game. As Barca crusied past Levante, they have opened a two point gap in the table, winning 4 out of 4 games.

Injury update:
Sandro Ramirez who came in for the injured Neymar, fell on his left ankle, looks likely to be fit for the next game, as he was subbed off just as a precautionary measures.