MADRID: Luuk de Jong headed in a 92nd-minute winner on Sunday as Barcelona prevailed in a five-goal mystery in opposition to Levante to go back to 2d in Los angeles Liga. De Jong’s past due target, his 6th within the league for Barca, proved the decisive second in a 3-2 victory in Valencia but it surely was once the advent of the 19-year-old Pedri off the bench that became the momentum of the competition.
Requested if the crew are too reliant on Pedri, Barcelona trainer Xavi Hernandez stated: “I wouldn’t put it like that however he’s an abnormal participant. I don’t dangle again any reward, he’s a participant who excites folks and makes a distinction.” A frantic 11 mins early in the second one half of noticed Levante ranking one penalty within the 52nd minute via Jose Luis Morales sooner than lacking a 2d within the fifty fifth, this time Roger Marti stepping up, best to be denied through Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Pedri got here off the bench within the 56th minute and 3 mins later Barcelona equalized, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang heading in Ousmane Dembele’s move to attain his tenth target for his new membership. Then within the 63rd minute, Pedri fired Barca in entrance with a first-time end into the nook, just for Levante to stage once more after being awarded a 3rd penalty, Gonzalo Melero this time making no mistake.
Levante seemed set to assert some degree however De Jong snatched the win, assembly Jordi Alba’s move and heading in on the close to put up. “After we don’t play smartly and we pull via, it displays now we have that profitable mentality,” stated Xavi. Barca climb again above Sevilla into 2d, nonetheless 12 issues at the back of Actual Madrid, who eased to a 2-0 victory over Getafe on Saturday. Xavi’s aspect have a recreation in surrender Actual Madrid, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid, with Atletico 3 issues at the back of in fourth after dropping on Saturday away at Mallorca.
Pedri scored a super winner in opposition to Sevilla ultimate weekend and whilst the midfielder was once to begin with rested in opposition to Levante, Barcelona have been remodeled after he got here on. Aubameyang, in the meantime, persevered his personal wealthy vein of shape since leaving Arsenal in January. The Gabon striker now has 10 objectives in 14 video games for his new membership.
Levante have been far and wide Barcelona early on and Morales was once thwarted through a superb, goal-line clearance through Eric Garcia after his end on the finish of a weaving run gave the impression to be spinning in. Garcia scrambled again to hook away. Ferran Torres two times went shut however the mayhem started in a while after half-time when Dani Alves leant into Son to stop him retrieving a one-two and Morales scored from the spot.
3 mins later, Levante had any other penalty after the ball cruelly dropped down onto the arm of Garcia. Morales left this spot-kick to Roger however his low shot to the left was once palmed away through Ter Stegen. Levante knew a possibility have been squandered and Barca performed faster with Pedri at the pitch, {the teenager} taking part in the important thing cross out to Dembele, who crossed in for Aubameyang to nod in.
5 mins later, Barcelona have been in entrance as Gavi nipped between two Levante defenders and squared for Pedri, who bent the ball first time into the a long way nook. Levante, despite the fact that, got here once more and when Melero fired of their 3rd penalty of the evening after Dani Gomez was once clipped through Clement Lenglet, they seemed to have secured some degree. De Jong, on for Aubameyang, had different concepts, speeding into the realm within the 92nd minute and Alba’s curving move discovering him. De Jong headed the ball within the put up. – AFP