Yamal scores twice as champions continue perfect start

Barcelona survived a late scare to claim a fifth straight win in LaLiga as Lamine Yamal scored twice in a 4-2 win at Levante.

Having scored five goals in each of their last two games, wins over Levante’s city rivals Valencia and Feyenoord in their Champions League opener, Barca needed just five minutes to begin another procession.

Teenager Xavi Espart opened the scoring by firing in from the edge of the area, with Barca’s lead then doubled as Yamal slammed into an empty net following excellent work from Raphinha.

Yamal seemingly ended the game as a contest with an emphatically taken penalty three minutes into the second half.

But Levante finished strongly and Ivan Romero pounced on an error by Espart to reduce the arrears, before a fine individual goal from Roger Brugue gave them hope of a remarkable late comeback.

Yet any thought of Levante snatching a point was put to bed as Karim Adeyemi answered Brugue’s goal with a solo effort of his own to wrap up the points.

Barcelona survive Levante scare

Espart opened his Barcelona account by finding the bottom-left corner after Raphinha had prodded the ball into his path, and the Brazilian was the provider as the visitors doubled their advantage.

He brilliantly controlled the ball after a long pass from Fermin Lopez deflected into the air, with the Barca captain then rounding the keeper and pulling back for Yamal to apply a simple finish.

Espart produced some excellent defending to prevent Victor Garcia from meeting a ball to the back post and halving Barca’s lead, which was extended shortly after the second-half restart.

Aissa Mandi was penalised for handling in the area as he went to challenge Yamal, who emphatically converted from 12 yards by finding the top-left corner.

Raphinha saw an effort deflected narrowly wide as a chance to make it 4-0 went begging, before Andreas Christensen denied Levante a route back into the game as he cleared off the line from Romero.

But Romero made no mistake when Espart carelessly played a loose pass into his path, the striker rounding Joan Garcia and tucking home.

Hopes that goal could be the start of something special for Levante grew when Brugue scored their second in superb fashion. The skipper outmuscled Marc Bernal on the left wing and surged into the box, before then showing the quick reactions to prod home on the rebound after Garcia repelled his initial effort.

The home fans greeted the announcement of six minutes of added time with huge roars of approval, but it was Barcelona who made the most of the opportunity to add to the scoresheet.

Adeyemi picked the ball up on the left wing and evaded three Levante defenders on a wonderful run, which he finished by coolly tucking home his third goal for Barcelona and his second this week.

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