Frenkie de Jong scored his first goal in over a year, and a stunning strike from Fermín López led Barcelona to a 3-0 victory over relegation-threatened Levante, putting them back atop LaLiga.
Earlier in the season, Hansi Flick’s team needed a last-minute goal to secure a win in their previous matchup, but this time they dominated, capitalizing on Real Madrid‘s loss to Osasuna to take a one-point lead at the top of the table.
After back-to-back defeats to Atlético Madrid and Girona that had shaken Barça’s confidence, they bounced back impressively. Marc Bernal initiated the scoring with a quick opener at the Nou Camp, followed by De Jong scoring for the first time since January 2025.
Substitute Fermín López capped off the performance with a stunning long-range effort that found the top corner.
The match started energetically, with Carlos Álvarez forcing an early save from Joan García, and Jules Koundé narrowly missing at the other end. However, it was Barça who struck first, breaking through in just four minutes.
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After a well-executed short corner that moved from right to left, Eric García received a clever pass from João Cancelo and set up Bernal, who deftly finished first-time after getting ahead of his marker.
Barcelona continued to press for a second goal, with Raphinha missing a couple of chances and Robert Lewandowski firing over.
Levante had a moment to break through with Jon Olasagasti, but he couldn’t beat García after a good link-up play with Iván Romero.
Shortly before the half-hour mark, Barcelona doubled their lead with another slick move originating down the right. A combination of Lamine Yamal, Bernal, and Cancelo set up De Jong perfectly to tap in from close range.
De Jong’s goal ended a long drought that had lasted since January, when he scored during a 7-1 victory over Valencia.
Levante’s chances of making a comeback dwindled when Kareem Tunde shot wide with their last opportunity before the halftime break.
The second half resumed with Barcelona continuing to create opportunities, though they were denied by Levante’s goalkeeper, Marcus Rashford, who was on the bench as he recovers from knee issues.
Flick made a tactical triple substitution with 25 minutes remaining, introducing López, Ferran Torres, and the returning Pedri.
Levante also bolstered their attack with Paco Cortés, who added some much-needed sharpness in offense.
López made an immediate impact, delivering a spectacular left-footed strike in the game’s closing moments that left Levante’s goalkeeper, Ryan, utterly helpless.
As the match wound down, Barcelona secured their victory, putting pressure back on Real Madrid in the title race, while Rashford remained on the bench, ensuring a comfortable finish for the home side.