Barcelona claimed a commanding 3-0 win over Levante on Sunday, reclaiming the top spot in LaLiga.
After Real Madrid fell 2-1 to Osasuna on Saturday, Hansi Flick’s side moved one point clear of their rivals with a comfortable victory at Camp Nou against the 19th-placed Levante.
Marc Bernal and Frenkie de Jong secured a first-half lead for Barcelona, with Fermin Lopez adding a late strike to seal the 3-0 triumph.
The win was a welcome response following a tough week that saw Barcelona suffer a 4-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals and a 2-1 loss to Girona in LaLiga earlier in the week.
“It was a difficult moment for us, but today we responded well,” Flick told reporters. “Being at the top of the table is important, but there’s still a long way to go.”
Despite Flick’s emphasis on defensive improvements, Barcelona showed occasional vulnerabilities, though Levante failed to convert their chances into goals.
Bernal opened the scoring following excellent work from Joao Cancelo, who impressed on his rare start since arriving on loan in January, alongside Eric Garcia.
This marked Bernal’s second goal since returning from a prolonged knee injury that sidelined the 18-year-old for over a year. “In my celebration, I thought of my father and my physio—he told me I would score, and he has been a tremendous help throughout this process,” Bernal shared with Movistar.
Veteran Polish forward Robert Lewandowski had the chance to double Barcelona’s lead but misfired, striking the ground and sending the ball over the bar when well positioned.
Cancelo struck the post with a cross aimed at Lewandowski before creating the second goal for De Jong with another well-placed ball from the left. De Jong’s precise finish ensured Barcelona went into the break with a two-goal advantage.
“Joao showed his strength and positive traits today, providing us with numerous great chances. It was an excellent performance from him, and it’s what I want to see,” Flick added.