Levante 0-2 Barça: Stoppage time Suarez goal gives gloss to hard-fought win

Luis Suarez scored in stoppage time to seal three points for Barcelona on a testing afternoon in Valencia against Levante. A David Navarro own goal had given Luis Enrique’s side the lead in the coach’s 100th game in charge, but the home team had plenty of chances to equalise before Suarez added Barça’s second in the 92nd minute. 

The Uruguayan now has 20 goals in La Liga this season and 36 in 34 appearances in all competitions, while Barça have restored their three point lead over Atletico Madrid at the top of the table. They still have a game in hand, away at Sporting Gijon, to come later this month, too, and the win over Levante matches the club’s record 28-game unbeaten run. Against Valencia on Wednesday they can set a new record. 

However, despite all the favourable statistics, this wasn’t a vintage performance from Barcelona. It would be easy to point to the kick off time and use that as an excuse, but their misgivings mirrored those in recent wins against Malaga, Athletic Club and Atletico Madrid. The important word there, though, is perhaps wins. Despite flattering to deceive, Barça continue to get out of games alive. 

Lionel Messi was incorrectly denied his 299th La Liga goal by the offside flag inside the opening minutes. A wonderful Barça move looked to have been crowned by a neat finish from the Argentine after Andres Iniesta had threaded a delicate ball through the middle of the home side’s flag, but the linesman had other ideas. Perhaps Messi’s movement had been too quick for him, as he was quite clearly onside when the ball was played. 

Barça didn’t have to wait long to open the scoring, though. After being denied that early goal, luck was on their side when the overlapping Jordi Alba’s cross was deflected into his own net by Navarro. Iniesta, once again, had been vital in the build up. 

Luis Suarez was then left kicking himself at the near post when he failed to turn home a Neymar cross. Messi’s diagonal pass had found the Brazilian, whose pass across the box was screaming out to be turned home, but Suarez poked it wide. 

Levante then seized control and were arguably the better team in the first half. Giuseppe Rossi, borrowed in January from Fiorentina, was particularly impressive, but there two best chances fell to Jose Luis Morales and Deyverson. Both men got in behind the Barça back line far too easily, with the latter firing wide and the former’s effort bouncing painfully back off of Claudio Bravo’s post.

The home side continued to create chances after the break, with Bravo making a save from Rossi’s 20-yard effort before Deyverson’s acrobatic effort failed to trouble the Catalan side’s stopper. 

Meanwhile, Barça, who had preferred Sergi Roberto in midfield to Sergio Buquets, were struggling to find the form which saw them dispense of Valencia in midweek. Their best two chances were flagged offside - correctly on this occasion. Messi scored after Suarez’s pass. Offside. Suarez headed a Messi free-kick on to the post. Offside. 

Rubi’s side continued to press, although they were unable to really test Bravo as they sought an equaliser. And as the poured forward in stoppage time they were caught out at the back. Messi broke down the right, cut inside and spotted the Suarez galloping through the middle. The former Liverpool striker picked up the ball, took a look at Diego Mariño and killed the game off with the outside of his right foot.