Yamal double helps Barca edge Levante thriller

AFP | Barcelona

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Lamine Yamal struck twice to help Barcelona to an exciting 4-2 win at Levante yesterday in La Liga, extending the Catalans' perfect start to the season.

Hansi Flick's side reestablished their three-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of the table, after Los Blancos beat Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.

Xavi Espart opened the scoring for the champions in Valencia with Yamal netting the second and then scoring a penalty early in the second half.

Barca may have a 100 percent record so far from their five games but their defensive frailties were exposed as Ivan Romero and Roger Brugue pulled Levante back into the game in the final stages.

Substitute Karim Adeyemi made the game safe for Barca in stoppage time with a stunning solo goal, breaking through at pace and beating Matthew Ryan.

"It was not our best game of course. We had a great start. In the second half we struggled a little bit," Flick told reporters.

"We have to fight to improve. It's normal, we have situations we have to make better, much better. We'll tell the team and go to the next match, but with the result I'm happy."

(Photo caption: Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal celebrates)

Barcelona defender Eric Garcia said that the team relaxed a bit in the second half and it nearly cost them.

"It was a hard game, we did make it harder for ourselves than it needed to be," Garcia told Movistar.

"But it has to teach us something - if you give any opponent a bit of breathing room they get on top of you."

The Catalans came flying out of the blocks at the Ciutat de Valencia stadium, where Levante were unbeaten in eight matches.

The visitors took the lead in the fifth minute, with Levante barely touching the ball before Barca defender Espart found the net.

Barcelona took the middle of Levante's team too easily and the 19-year-old finished from the edge of the box with the help of a slight deflection.

It was Espart's first goal for the club, with the young midfielder brought into the first-team this season by Flick and deployed at left-back.

Levante responded with a spell of sustained pressure and Barca were fortunate to maintain their advantage.

Petar Ratkov could not get a proper shot away when well placed and Barca goalkeeper Joan Garcia saved well from Brugue.

Levante soon came to regret those spurned chances when Raphinha created Barca's second for teenage star Yamal.

The Brazilian rounded goalkeeper Ryan and squared for Yamal to smash into the empty net in the 19th minute.

Between the afternoon summer heat and some heavy tackles, the pace of the game slowed.