Barcelona thump Levante


Barcelona gave Levante a footballing masterclass this evening in their opening fixture of the La Liga season with a spectacular 7-0 victory.

Alexis Sanchez, Alves, Xavi and a Messi double sent the home side into half time with an astonishing 6-0 lead.

In the second half, Pedro got his second of the match to seal Barcelona's biggest ever victory in an opening fixture and Levante's biggest ever defeat.

Neymar started the game on the bench but came on the in the second half.

Barcelona got off to the perfect possible start with a goal after just 3 minutes. Xavi put Fabregas through behind the defence and he squared the ball across goal to Alexis Sanchez who tapped the ball into the empty net.

It only took 10 minutes for the home side to strike again. Messi gave the ball to Pedro, who cut the ball back to edge of the 6-yard box where the Argentinian was waiting, giving the best player in the world his first goal of the season.

Messi won the ball 10 minutes later and played a one-two with Dani Alves before giving the ball to Fabregas. The former Arsenal man looked to square the ball again but it was intercepted. However, Dani Alves got there before the danger could be removed and put the ball away for his side's third.

3 minutes later Barcelona got their 4th goal. Messi played a superb pass to Pedro which split the defence. The Spaniard nestled the ball into the net.

With the home side scoring 4 of their 5 on target attempts after just 26 minutes, Levante looked to be in deep trouble. On top of this, Iniesta and Neymar were on the bench. It could only get worse.

And that it did. Pedro was on his way out of the box when Pedro Lopez stomped on his foot and the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Messi for his second of the match.

The Catalans weren't finished. They had time to add another goal before the interval. Xavi laid the ball off to Fabregas, who chipped the ball over the top of the defence. Xavi was there and his slight touch sent the ball into the back of the net.

Levante's worst ever defeat was against Barcelona back in the 1960's. That game finished 6-0. In this game, it was 6-0 at the interval.

In the second period Barcelona settled down a bit, in terms of their goals. They were still dominating and frankly the football they were playing was frightening.

Fabregas hooked the ball over the top of the defence with the outside of his foot to Messi, who was on course for his hat-trick, but Navas came out of his goal and collected the ball to kill the danger.

Even Pique was getting in on the act as he forced two decent saves from Navas.

On the 64th minute Neymar entered Spanish football for the first time as he came on in place of Alexis Sanchez. He was immediately fouled, as was Fabregas a little later on as Levante improved their game and got more physical.

Iniesta replaced Messi, denying the Argentinian an opening day hat-trick but Barcelona still scored again.

Roadas sloppily gave the ball away with a free-kick, which he disputed ever taking, and he rolled the ball to Fabregas. He rounded the keeper but couldn't get a shot of his own away, with the ball falling to Pedro who grabbed his second of the match.

Pedro was also denied a hat-trick when he was replaced by Christian Tello.

Neymar was showing flashes of his brilliance. He played passes and immediately looked for a return. He found Fabregas, who again flicked the ball over the top for the Brazilian. However, the ball sent him too far wide. He attempted a lob, where there wasn't much he could do, which was gathered by Navas.

Levante improved in the second-half but the damage was already done and the game finishing 7-0 to the hosts.

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