Barcelona Survive Levante Scare as Adeyemi Seals Win

Barcelona held off Levante’s late surge to protect their winning start, with Karim Adeyemi’s stoppage-time solo strike finally killing the contest after the leaders had let a three-goal cushion slip alarmingly.

Hansi Flick admitted his side lost control after the break at Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, even though Xavi Espart’s first senior goal and Lamine Yamal’s double had put Barcelona in command.

Quick facts

Teenager Xavi Espart scored his first Barcelona senior goal inside five minutes.
Lamine Yamal added a close-range finish before converting a second-half penalty.
Ivan Romero and Roger Brugue dragged Levante back into the match late on.
Substitute Karim Adeyemi scored in stoppage time, his third goal since joining from Borussia Dortmund.
Barcelona have scored 26 goals in six matches in all competitions.

Raphinha was central to Yamal’s first goal, creating the move that ended with the forward finishing from close range. Yamal then made it three from the spot early in the second half, seemingly leaving Levante with too much ground to recover.

Instead, Barcelona faltered. Romero punished an error by Espart with a little more than 10 minutes remaining, before Brugue struck in the 88th minute to turn the closing stages into a frantic test.

Adeyemi provided the decisive response. The summer arrival ran beyond three defenders before finding the net in added time, restoring breathing room and securing the points.

Flick was unimpressed by his team’s game management, saying Barcelona had started strongly but struggled after half-time. He said the players needed to stay composed when three goals ahead and use the difficult finish as a lesson.

The Barcelona coach also accepted blame for Levante’s first goal. Flick said the staff had planned a substitution but he chose to delay it until the next stoppage, only for Romero to score before the change could be made.

“We will review the game and identify what must improve,” Flick said, pointing to positioning, passing and the links between players. He added that Barcelona’s early results have not been straightforward, but have looked comfortable because the side has performed well.

Adeyemi’s immediate scoring impact has contrasted with Anthony Gordon’s start in Catalonia. The English attacker is yet to score for Barcelona, but Flick insisted he remains pleased with the forward’s work in possession and ability to help the team retain the ball.

Flick said Gordon naturally wants a first goal as a striker and hoped it would arrive soon, but stressed that the former Borussia Dortmund winger is already giving the team important qualities.

Barcelona return to domestic action against Racing Santander on Wednesday. A demanding trip to Sevilla follows next weekend, with Flick’s side aiming to maintain their league advantage before the extended international break.