Lionel Messi scored a brace and grabbed an assist to help his team, Barcelona maul Levante 4-1 in the Spanish La liga on Sunday.
The Blaugrana struggled in the first half of the encounter and could not break down a resolute Levante defence.
However the jinx was broken in the 50th minute when a talismanic Messi managed to dribble through the midst of two Levante defenders before looping a pass that fell to Marc Bartra who was able to control it with his chest inside the 18-yard box before coolly slotting it into the left-hand angle of the post.
The second fell to Neymar who was able to control his initial shot that ricocheted off a defender to slot in the second in between the legs of another Levante defender in the 56th minute.
Barcelona were awarded a penalty for a rash challenge on Neymar which Messi converted in the 61st minute for the third goal before he was also brought down in the box.
The responsibility of converting the ensuing penalty again fell on Messi who ballooned the ball over Ruben Ivan Martinez’s goal.
Levante were able to capitalise on an error of judgement on the part of Barcelona goalkeeper, Marc-Andre ter Stegen who misjudged an aerial ball to expose his goal post and give Victor Casadesus a chance to pull one back.
In the 90th minute, Lionel Messi proved why he was adjudged the best player in Europe when he cleverly weaved the ball through the midst of three defenders before firing a low volley into the left angle of Ruben’s goal for his second of the night and Barcelona’s fourth.
With this result, Barcelona have returned to the top of the league table with 12 points in four games, two above arch-rivals Real Madrid who were able to eke out a slim 1-0 win over Granada.
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