FC Barcelona maintained their perfect start to the 2026-27 season with a 4-2 away win over Levante. Xavi Espart opened the scoring, Lamine Yamal struck twice and Karim Adeyemi added a stoppage-time fourth as Barcelona retained a three-point lead at the top of La Liga.
Hansi Flick was pleased to take the points, but his post-match assessment also focused on the periods in which his side lost control after establishing a three-goal advantage. As Mundo Deportivo reported, the Barcelona coach said his team had started well before finding the second half more difficult. He also credited Levante for their home performance and pointed to the condition of the pitch.
Flick explained that Barcelona’s selection had taken the upcoming schedule into account. The team return to action at home against Racing Santander on Wednesday before another away league fixture the following weekend, and the coach said those matches had informed several changes to his starting lineup.
The coach also accepted responsibility for Levante’s first goal. Flick said Barcelona had intended to replace Espart after the player asked to come off, but the staff opted to wait for the next stoppage. He nevertheless expressed satisfaction with the result and Barcelona’s opening to the match.
Barcelona’s goals reflected the shape of a game that shifted sharply after the visitors built their lead.
| Phase of match | Key event |
|---|---|
| Fifth minute | Espart opened the scoring for Barcelona. |
| First half | Yamal added Barcelona’s second goal. |
| Early second half | Yamal converted a penalty to complete his brace and make it 3-0. |
| Late stages | Levante scored twice to bring the contest back into balance. |
| Stoppage time | Adeyemi sealed the 4-2 victory. |
Flick said difficult passages can be part of a side’s development, while making clear that Barcelona must improve in several areas. He identified positioning, passing and connections between players as points for analysis ahead of the next match. He also noted that Levante had been strong at home, having gone eight home matches without defeat before this result.
Adeyemi’s late solo goal drew particular praise from Flick. The coach said the forward’s focus is central to what he can offer Barcelona and highlighted his contribution to the fourth goal. As ESPN reported, Adeyemi came off the bench to settle the match in stoppage time.
On Anthony Gordon, Flick stressed the forward’s value in controlling the ball and helping Barcelona retain possession. At the same time, he said that scoring is important for an attacker and expressed hope that Gordon would find the net soon. Flick added that he was happy with Gordon’s contribution.
Flick also addressed set-piece responsibilities, saying the players decide who takes them according to who is best placed at the time. Barcelona now move on to Wednesday’s home match against Racing Santander, with further improvements in their control and passing among the issues flagged after the win at Levante.
