Barcelona maintained their perfect La Liga form with a remarkable win as they came from behind to beat a Levante side awarded three second-half penalties. The game burst into life when Levante defender Son was fouled by Dani Alves, allowing Jose Luis Morales to convert from the spot. Four minutes later the home side was handed a second penalty after Eric Garcia handballed, but Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen did well the save the penalty from Roger.
Barca responded, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang heading in a superb Ousmane Dembele cross before two substitutes combined as Gavi teed up Pedri for a sweeping finish. Ter Stegen’s save had offered a springboard for the visitors to turn the game but he faced a third penalty after Maxi Gomez was fouled by Clement Lenglet who had been on the field for less than two minutes – and this time substitute Gonzalo Melero sent the keeper the wrong way to level.
Levante’s seven points from safety looked to have earned a deserved point but Luuk de Jong headed home Jordi Alba’s cross in added time to ensure Xavi’s men grab the all-important three points.
Barcelona currently is the most in-form team in Europe’s top-five leagues on a run of 11 wins and four draws from their last 15 La Liga outings. They were far from at their best here but responded to adversity and – thanks largely to Ter Stegen’s key penalty save at 1-0 – move second in La Liga, 12 points behind Real Madrid with a game in hand.