Barcelona made light work of Levante on Sunday, with Lionel Messi netting a hat-trick and setting up the other two goals.
Player Ratings
Match Report
Messi set up Luis Suarez for the opening goal before scoring a hat-trick as Ernesto Valverde's side made amends for their shock 5-4 defeat at Ciutat de Valencia last May.
The 31-year-old has now scored 50 goals for club and country eight times over the last nine calendar years and he helped round off the rout by setting up Gerard Pique for the fifth two minutes from time.
Match Events
35'GOAL! Levante 0-1 Barcelona (Suarez)
Messi dances around Levante's defence, winding up on the left of the box. He curls a ball towards Suarez in the centre who fires home a delicious first-time volley. That's why they're champions.
43'GOAL! Levante 0-2 Barcelona (Messi)
Messi dances around Levante's defence, winding up on the left of the box. He curls a ball towards Suarez in the centre who fires home a delicious first-time volley. That's why they're champions.
47'GOAL! Levante 0-3 Barcelona (Messi)
Suarez picks up the ball and runs forwards the Levante defence, playing in Alba on the left. Alba's cross finds Messi in the area and the Barca captain curls it into the far corner.
60'GOAL! Levante 0-4 Barcelona (Messi)
Messi gets his hat-trick. Suarez teases the Levante defence, curling in a delightful outside-of-the-boot cross with his right foot. Instead of shooting at the far post, Vidal selflessly crosses the ball back to Messi in the centre for a tap-in. This game is done.
76' Red Card! Cabaco sent off
The defender is dismissed for brutally sliding in on an onrushing Dembele, kneeing him in the chest on the follow-up. This could get even worse for Levante.
88' GOAL! Levante 0-5 Barcelona (Pique)
The centre-back starts off a lovely passing move for Barca which winds up with Messi on the left. The Argentinian squares it for Pique who's ventured forward - he feints to shoot before rolling the ball calmly past a deceived Levante.
Line-ups
Levante XI: Rubén Rochina, Oier , Postigo, Toño, J.Campaña, Morales, Jason, Cabaco, Bardhi, E.Boateng, Rober
Subs: Coke, Aitor Fernández, Prcic, Martí, C.Rodríguez, M. Simon, Mayoral
Barcelona XI: L. Messi, T. Vermaelen, L. Suárez, Piqué, I. Rakitić, Vidal, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, M. ter Stegen, Lenglet, O. Dembélé
Subs: Philippe Coutinho, Jasper Cillessen, D.Suárez, Arthur, Munir, Carles Aleñá, Juan Miranda
Iamtom_davidonIG
599
Pele: but can Messi dribble with his head?
GlennM
537
What Roanldo do in 1 month, Messi does it in 1 match.
Messigician9703
468
Victory is sweet but Revenge is sweeter. I guess it wasn't just against Levante for breaking Barcelona undefeated streak last season but also against Pele. 3 goals and 2 assists by Messi: Any to say haters?
Ciscogaius
398
Pique is a better striker than morata and lukaku combined
Nkhinlakbou
387
Barca playing without right back
roynsirim
378
In their last 2 matches, Barcelona scored 7 goals and conceived none Lionel Messi scored 5 and assisted 2 In today's match Barcelona won 5 nil, Messi scored 3 and assisted 2 Let that sink
JonathanArw1212
375
Pele has left the chat...
barca-city
347
hey Pele... hope u noticed Messi's right footed goal
Ciscogaius
337
Someone needs to tell Messi pele was joking. Now some teams are suffering cos of what he said. 😂😂😂😂
thebossofthegame
320
Messi scores 3, assists 2 in Barca's 5-0 win... 5th best player in the world 😂 🐐
rohitgirwal18
269
Messi's stats against Levante: Key passes: 7 Big chances created: 4 Passes completed: 36 Shots (on target): 7 (4) Duels won: 5 Fouls won: 2 Dribbles completed: 2 Goals: 3 Assists: 2
Williej
251
Semedo complained of a knee injury and Valverde had to make a quick decision with the formation. so...... Messi scores with his right foot, Messi scored an hat-trick, Messi assisted in every goal tonight, Pique defense was on fire and he scored a goal. Suarez and Messi are like bread and butter , a beautiful combination. Levante beat us 5-4 last year. today was their reckoning😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 an absolutely brilliant Match. and we smiled through. FORCA BARCA.
U.S.A8277820
218
Anyone notice that Messi almost get hattrick on assist and goals if it wasn’t for sloppy Suarez ?😂😂🤣🤣
MessiAmir
209
After this match pele deactivate all account from social media 😂🤣😂
shashwatchoudhary14
206
Barca relies too much on Messi. If Messi had a bad day then Barca probably would lose the match. I know he is the best player but he can't score in every match. Levante played brilliantly in the first 25-30 minutes.
Sidc22
185
This is called revenge taking peacefully😎😎........
louikmstuz
159
Do you see why Coutinho should have started came on and was involved in pique goal to make it 5
opaques
158
Did you know? 😍😍 1. Between Barcelona and Argentina, Lionel Messi has scored 50+ goals in eight of the last nine years (50 in 2018). 2. Lionel Messi is now the top-scorer in the top five European leagues this season (13 goals). 3. Lionel Messi has been involved in more goals than any other player in the Europe’s top five leagues this season (13 goals and nine assists).
Intellectual2000
143
finding Pele???no signal.
Singhboii
65
Flashback to 2015. 5-0 Barca Levante
wulover
64
Lmao, Lionel Messi (14) has scored more LaLiga goals than Valencia this season (13)
Disneyy
48
Lionel Messi's game by numbers vs. Levante: 72 touches 7 chances created 7 shots 4 shots on target 3 goals 2 assists 2 take-ons 2 fouls won An absolute privilege to watch.
GlennM
46
Ain't gonna talk about MESSI MAGIC, PELE will. But what a performance by Pique. Who need a new CB when you have got Pique.
Tesso
45
Messi against Levante: ⚽ 3 goals 🅰️ 2 assists 🐐 Goat for a reason!
Heidisoder
43
Messi has now been involved in goals during his 784 official games for club and country 637 goals 264 assists
rillo9
43
Guys.. The funny thing about Levante is that.. Barcelona is going to play Levante 3 good times in the space of 3 weeks... OMG... This is suicide...... The first part is 5-0 Where Messi already scored 3 and got himself 2 assist... Please who can predict the next 2 games coming up in few days time...... Note : Those 2 are going to be Copa Dey Rey
rillo9
42
😯 Lionel Messi (14) and Luis Suárez (11) have scored 25 league goals this season. 😒 Real Madrid have scored just 24. In case you don't understand that. Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez has got more goals than Realmdarid as a whole....
pmfootball
40
a 5 star performance by the 5th best in the world
Viuaeipyz
40
Waiting For Pele To Come With Some Other Trash Talk Like
BarcelonaManCityFC
36
The legend keeps on scoring, while Ronaldo fans keep on hating. 2018/19 has been Messi’s year so far. About twice more goals than Ronaldo and thrice more assists I think. It’s another win for the Blaugranes.... THE TREBLE IS BECKONING!!!!!!! Ivan Rakitic played excellent today. Even Suarez and Vidal. Lenglet was decent but Pique was the leader of the defence. COME ON BARCELONA!!!!!
Stellen_Henriques
26
also, a very warm welcome to Marc Andre Ter Stegen who have done stunning saves like he is stranger 'not from this planet' Pique, he is the best defender in the world but if we consider him as striker, nothing wrong in it, he already proven what he is Suarez, he's celebration I'm always waiting for a match because he plays & no goal,,, no, no, no, no it's impossible because it's universal truth Messi, you know Messi is Messi you can't give another name, he's an ultimate power goal machine addressed from an another galaxy the football fame is in Messi's name
Nesaiknruy_Legend
16
What Roanldo do in 1 month, Messi does it in 1 match.
Ronaldo will still get praised more for it cos he scores goals. Even if Messi scored, assists, does everything. They'll still try compare Ronaldo to him cos they want a comparison for Messi. Reality is no one compares to Messi as an individual footballer....
Pepaceprsz
14
Pele: but can Messi dribble with his head?
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you made my day... 😂😂😂😂