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FC Barcelona survived a second penalty kick in minute 56 and took the lead shortly afterwards. Just before time it seemed to go wrong when Clement Lenglet caused the third penalty: 2-2. But there was Luuk de Jong’s golden head again, brought in six minutes before the end for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the lifesaver. And again he did not disappoint. One perfect pass from Jordi Alba was enough for the Dutchman, who now headed it in as a matter of course.
That while it was very difficult for FC Barcelona. The team has rightly received praise for the game in recent weeks, but after it only started playing football in the Europa League against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday when Frenkie de Jong and Ousmane Dembélé came on the field, it now started apathically in Valencia. Barca were unrecognizable for half.
Frenkie de Jong started again in the base and Luuk de Jong was on the bench (Memphis is expected back in the European return on Thursday), in a game in which Barcelona could not impose the will on the low flyer of La Liga for a long time. There was little movement in a Barcelona that seemed to be playing on autopilot for a win. That did not go well.
The Catalans were shocked when 34-year-old captain José Luis Morales managed to slalom over a red carpet to goalkeeper Marc-André Ter Stegen. But his effort after 26 minutes was slowed down just enough by the German goalie, after which Eric Garcia was able to get the ball off the line.
In minute 52, the shrewd striker and captain of Levante still scored, when Dani Alves floored left back Son in the penalty area. Morales shot in the 1-0 from the spot. Four minutes later, after a handball from Eric Garcia, he seemed to be able to score again from eleven meters, but Roger suddenly reported behind the ball. Ter Stegen took his bet and then everything seemed to turn for the better for Barcelona.
Xavi intervened and pulled the disappointing Nico Gonzalez aside and Frenkie de Jong. The substitutes were called Gavi and Pedri, who once got a bit more rest like ‘Frenkie’ a few days earlier. On the hour of play, assist king Dembele put a ball on the head of striker Aubameyang from the right: 1-1. Three minutes later, Gavi withdrew a ball to Pedri, who found the far corner low: 1-2 and the job seemed to be done in no time.
Attack averted, you might say. But where Barcelona did not concede a penalty for 29 rounds, it now gave up its third in one game. The cold-hearted Clement Lenglet, who last year more than once acted as a ghost driver in Ronald Koeman’s team, stupidly caused the third eleven-meter kick. Gonzalo Melero signed for the 2-2 in minute 83.
Expensive loss points for Barcelona, which saw competitor Sevilla take over second place after the 4-2 win over Granada. So it seemed. But Luuk de Jong restored order for Spain’s number two.