<figure id="attachment_3288172" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3288172" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3288172" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/249764a7-barcelona.jpg" alt="Barcelona" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3288172" class="wp-caption-text">Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong (left) turns in a cross for the second goal against Levante at Camp Nou. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
BARCELONA: Barcelona returned to the top of LaLiga with a straightforward 3-0 victory over relegation-threatened Levante on Sunday as Marc Bernal, Frenkie De Jong and substitute Fermin Lopez struck at Camp Nou.
Last season&#8217;s champions moved to 61 points from 25 games, one ahead of Real Madrid after their rivals&#8217; defeat by Osasuna on Saturday.
Barca had slipped to second following last week&#8217;s 2-1 loss to Girona but on Sunday they ensured Real&#8217;s setback did not go to waste and rarely looked troubled by a Levante side second from bottom on 18 points.
Levante threatened inside the opening minute but Carlos Alvarez&#8217;s effort was weak and comfortably gathered by keeper Joan Garcia.
Barcelona responded swiftly. In the fourth minute Eric Garcia surged down the left and drilled a low cross into the box, where 18-year-old Bernal slid in to finish from close range.
&#8220;I believe we have managed to control the match effectively and have done very well in every level,&#8221; Bernal told Movistar Plus.
&#8220;I&#8217;m very happy with the three points and for helping the team with a goal. It&#8217;s true that they had a chance early but my goal helped us to settle down and gain confidence.&#8221;
Robert Lewandowski squandered a rebound soon after, while Levante almost equalised in the 14th minute when Ivan Romero released Jon Ander Olasagasti on the counter-attack, only for Garcia to produce a sharp one-on-one save.
De Jong doubled the lead in the 32nd minute, ghosting in unmarked to turn in Joao Cancelo&#8217;s cross from the left.
Barcelona dominated possession after halftime but initially lacked a clinical edge. Lewandowski and Raphinha both missed presentable chances, and Levante goalkeeper Mathew Ryan denied Jules Kounde with a fine save.
Lopez eventually put the result beyond doubt in the 81st minute, drilling a left-footed shot from the edge of the box in off the post to complete an efficient afternoon&#8217;s work from Barcelona rather than a spectacular one.
Ryan ensured the scoreline did not get worse for Levante in added time, producing back-to-back saves to deny Raphinha&#8217;s header and then Lopez from point-blank range.

MatchPoint Times

Barcelona return to LaLiga summit with 3-0 win over Levante

The Catalans move one point clear of Real Madrid after a dominant performance against the relegation-threatened club.

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