FC Barcelona had to give it their all to get through a match that was more complicated than expected against a Levante that, far from being intimidated by the current Primera champion, showed personality and punch. The home side's 2-0 lead at halftime seemed to set up the upset of the day, but Barca's second-half comeback tipped the scales, turning the score around to a final 3-2.

The match began with an electric atmosphere at a packed Ciutat de Valencia stadium. Valencia, led by an inspired Jose Luis Morales, went with a direct plan: quick transitions and pressure on the Blaugrana defense. The strategy paid off in the 15th minute, when Ivan Romero opened the scoring after a play constructed by Manu Sanchez and extended by Morales. The stadium erupted with joy.

The blow left Barca reeling, and they tried their luck with mid-range shots and crosses from the wings. Ferran Torres came close to equalizing with a shot that hit the crossbar, but goalkeeper Pablo Campos was confident and thwarted every attempt. Just when it looked like the break was approaching with them a goal down, a handball by Balde in his own area was awarded a penalty after a VAR review. Morales, with composure, made it 2-0 in the dying moments of the first half.

The Barca comeback

The start of the second half brought a radical change. Hansi Flick made some changes to his bench, and the introduction of Gavi and Dani Olmo gave the team a different rhythm. Just a few minutes later, Pedri reduced the deficit with a precise shot from outside the area that surprised Campos. Barely three minutes later, Ferran Torres equalized after a corner kick by Raphinha.

With the score level, Barcelona completely dominated possession, and Levante began to show signs of wear and tear. Even so, goalkeeper Campos emerged as the home team's hero with several worthy saves that kept the dream of a draw alive. The Granota team, despite Julian Calero's substitutions, They no longer had the same energy to run on the counterattack.

Levantine's resilience, however, collapsed in added time. In the 91st minute, a cross from Lamine Yamal met with the misfortune of Unai Elgezabal, who, in his attempt to clear, ended up sending the ball into his own net. The 2-3 scoreline unleashed euphoria for the visitors and sealed Barcelona's first epic comeback of the season.

The league champions took all three points and, regardless of the result, made it clear that they have the resources to survive even in the most adverse scenarios. Levante, meanwhile, left with the bitter feeling of having come close to a historic feat that slipped away in the final seconds.