Barcelona Regain LaLiga Top Spot with Comfortable Win

Barcelona back on top

Barca bounce back from two defeats, securing 12th win in 12 LaLiga home games. Barcelona beat Levante 3-0, with Frenkie de Jong scoring his first goal since January 2025. Fermin Lopez's thunderous strike seals.

Flick's men are now one point ahead of Real Madrid at the top of the league table, following their rivals...

Barcelona is back on top of LaLiga after a comfortable 3-0 win over Levante, with Frenkie de Jong scoring his first goal since January 2025. This victory marks a strong response from Barca after suffering back-to-back losses against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey and Girona in LaLiga, just the third time under boss Hansi Flick.

The match almost started on a bad note for Barca, with Levante's Carlos Alvarez finding space in the box and firing straight at Joan Garcia within 30 seconds. However, Marc Bernal put Barca ahead in the 4th minute, followed by De Jong's 2-0 goal in the 32nd minute. Substitute Fermin Lopez sealed the win with a spectacular drive in the 81st minute.

Barcelona quickly took control of the game. Jules Kounde had an early chance, volleying over at the far post.

Marc Bernal gave Barca the lead in the fourth minute, sliding to convert Eric Garcia's low cross for his second goal in three matches.

Barca had a great chance to double their lead shortly after, but Mathew Ryan made a crucial save at point-blank range to deny Raphinha. Robert Lewandowski then fired the rebound over the crossbar.

Levante spurned another big chance in the 15th minute. Jon Ander Olasagasti shot straight at Joan García after Iván Romero’s through ball dissected the home defence.

Barcelona continued to dominate, and Joao Cancelo nearly scored a fortuitous first goal when his inswinging cross missed everyone and struck the post.

The Portuguese full-back’s next cross proved even more dangerous as he picked out the onrushing De Jong, who timed his run perfectly to volley past Ryan from eight yards out.

Barça's momentum was palpable, having scored 21 unanswered second-half goals in LaLiga home games this term prior to this match, making Levante's prospects look bleak. A third Blaugrana goal seemed inevitable, with Eric Garcia's powerful header just missing the target six minutes into the second half. Levante's hopes were further buoyed by Alan Matturro's incredible last-ditch block, denying Raphinha a scoring opportunity.

At the other end, Paco Cortes had a rare chance to prevent Levante from going three games without scoring when he sprung the offside trap midway through the half.

The substitute slipped and scuffed his shot into the side-netting.

Barcelona eventually added a third with nine minutes remaining, when Fermin Lopez collected a short corner and sent a thunderous strike in off the post from 20 yards to take his goal tally for the campaign to 11.

FT: #BarçaLevanteUD 3-0

FC Barcelona make a statement with a commanding win at Spotify Camp Nou! 💪#LALIGAEASPORTS pic.twitter.com/fQxj3sbNpe

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) February 22, 2026

That was a great way to end Barca's 12th win in 12 LaLiga home games. Mathew Ryan also made a sensational double save from Raphinha and Lopez in the closing stages, adding to the excitement.

Flick's men are now one point ahead of Real Madrid at the top of the league table, following their rivals' 2-1 loss to Osasuna on Saturday. In contrast, Levante remains in 19th place, seven points away from safety, after suffering their fourth consecutive league defeat. Levante's struggles are further highlighted by their 0-3 loss to Barcelona, marking their 18th consecutive LaLiga defeat away to the Catalan club, a competition record.