Barcelona regain three-point lead with win at Levante

Barcelona survived a scare to claim an unconvincing 2-0 win over Levante, restoring their three-point lead at the top of La Liga.

Atletico Madrid’s 3-1 win over Eibar on Saturday momentarily drew Diego Simeone’s side level at the top of the standings, but the Catalans reinstated the gap - albeit with a below-par and weary performance at the Ciutat de Valencia.

David Navarro’s own goal gave Luis Enrique’s side a first-half lead, but Levante went toe-to-toe with the defending champions and created enough opportunities to at least be level by the half-time interval.

Barcelona failed to find top form after the restart as well, only finding their second goal in stoppage-time of a match Levante had more than played their part in. This was billed as a potential flattening for the strugglers, but in the end Enrique and his players will have been thankful to escape with three points.

16’ LEVANTE SHOT AT GOAL! This has been better from the home side in the last few minutes, but Deyverson can't angle his effort on target and puts the ball past the near-post.

19’ NEYMAR COMES CLOSE! That needed the save from the Levante keeper. The Brazilian's curling effort is stopped by Marino. That looked like giving Barcelona a 1-0 lead.

20’ GOAL! Levante 0 Barcelona 1: There's the opener for Barcelona! Alba gets down the left on the overlap, crosses into the area and the ball deflects into the net off the thigh of Navarro.

28’ OPPORTUNITY FOR SUAREZ! Once again Alba does well to get down the left side, crossing for Suarez. But the former Liverpool striker turns his shot wide of the near post. That was a chance.

34’ NOT FAR AWAY AT ALL! Verza lines up the freekick from the edge of the Barcelona penalty area and zips his shot only just over the bar. Bravo was scrambling to reach that one!

35’ ANOTHER CHANCE FOR THE HOME SIDE! This time Deyverson gets on the end of a cross to the back post, but his acrobatic effort bounces down off the turf and over the target.

36’ LERMA WAS CLEAN THROUGH! Deyverson's glancing header put him through on goal, but he never looked confident and dragged his effort well wide of the goal one-on-one with Bravo.

39’ LEVANTE HIT THE WOODWORK! The home side are having a real go here! Morales gets in behind Alves, but his low shot across Bravo hits the post and bounces away from danger!

49’ BRAVO NEEDS TO MAKE THE SAVE! Rossi lines up the shot from the edge of the penalty area, but the Barcelona goalkeeper is on hand to make the effort away from goal.

64’ RAKITIC'S HEADER NEEDED SAVED! The Croatian gets between his two markets to direct a header from a corner kick towards goal, but Marino is on hand to push up into the air.

78’ MESSI DIDN'T MAKE THE MOST OF THE BREAK! Barcelona had a great chance with a three-on-three in the counter attack, but the pass from Messi wasn't great and Neymar's shot is blocked.

91’ GOAL! Levante 0 Barcelona 2: Barcelona seal the three points, although that's harsh on the home side! They deserve better. Messi squared for Suarez on the counter, who finishes with the outside of his foot.

Giuseppe Rossi: Javier Mascherano was the standout performer for Barcelona, but it was the display of Giuseppe Rossi that caught the eye most. The Italian forward is at Levante to revive his career on loan from Fiorentina for the rest of the season, and on this season he could be the difference for his new team in their battle to avoid the drop. He gave Barca all kinds of problems at the back and was unlucky not to find the net.

Levante - Marino 6, Lopez 5, Navarro 5, Feddal 6, Tono 7, Simao 6, Verza 6, Lerma 5, Morales 6, Deyverson 7, Rossi 8. Subs - Camarasa 5, Cuero 5, Ghilas 5.

Barcelona - Bravo 6, Alves 4, Pique 5, Mascherano 7, Alba 6, Roberto 5, Rakitic 5, Iniesta 5, Messi 5, Neymar 6, Suarez 6. Subs - Vidal 5, Busquets 6

David Navarro’s own goal opener for Barcelona was the 68,000th in La Liga history.

Luis Suarez has scored more goals than any other player in La Liga this season (20).

Luis Enrique’s side have now stretched their unbeaten run to 28 games - matching the record set by Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona team in the 2010/11 season.

Are Barcelona showing signs of weariness? Levante had reason to be apprehensive ahead of this match, given Barcelona’s stunning midweek Copa Del Rey thumping of Valencia. But the Catalans - perhaps for the first time this season - showed signs if tiredness, having played so many games in such a short space of time. Levante gave as good as they have got for much of the contest, only to be undone by an unfortunate own goal. Barcelona got away with this one.