Lamine Yamal Stuns the World by Replicating Lionel Messi's Iconic Feat in Barcelona's Dominant Win Over Levante

Barcelona maintained their perfect start to the 2026–27 campaign with a 4–2 win over Levante on Sunday, as Lamine Yamal netted twice for the third La Liga match in a row.

Hansi Flick's side recorded six victories from six across all competitions this term at the Estadio Ciutat de València, as the home side struggled to contain the visiting stars despite a spirited late comeback attempt.

It was 19-year-old Xavi Espart who broke the deadlock within just five minutes, netting his first-ever senior goal, before Yamal tapped home into an empty net at the 20-minute mark.

Barcelona's No.10 made it three just moments after the interval, slotting home from the penalty spot to seemingly put the match to bed. In doing so, Yamal became the first player to score a brace in three of his side's opening five La Liga fixtures since none other than Lionel Messi in 2012, according to Opta.

The match then took an unexpected turn for Barça when Levante pulled one back through substitute Iván Romero following an Espart error in his own area. The reminder that Barcelona are not invincible galvanized Luís Castro's side, and Roger Brugué added a second to inject some late drama into the closing stages.

However, Karim Adeyemi extinguished any hopes of a historic remontada with a stunning solo goal in stoppage time. The victory keeps the defending champions three points ahead at the summit of La Liga, with little sign of them relinquishing that position anytime soon.

The One Thing We Can't Ignore

Barcelona look like an unstoppable force at the outset of the new campaign, having racked up a remarkable 21 goals across their first five matches.

Raphinha and Yamal dazzled once again on Sunday, with the former now boasting an astonishing nine goal involvements in just four appearances.

Even with the first international break of the season on the horizon, it's hard to envision anyone preventing Hansi Flick's side from retaining their La Liga title. Barcelona's sheer dominance in the early stages of 2026–27 highlights the growing imbalance within Spain's top flight—one that may never have been more pronounced.

Levante had gone unbeaten at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia since February, yet were powerless against the attacking firepower of the visitors. The Granotes caused some problems and proved themselves the stiffest test Barcelona have encountered so far in 2025–26—though that is not saying a great deal.

As impressive as Barça's early-season form has been, these results alone will not define their campaign. Flick's men may need to wait until October—when they take on Real Betis, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid within an eight-day window—before their true quality is put to the test and we can judge whether this is a good side or a truly great one.

Barcelona Player Ratings vs. Levante (4-2-3-1)

*Ratings Provided by FotMob*

GK: Joan García—7.4: The Yashin Trophy contender was denied a fourth clean sheet of the season due to some late defensive lapses.

RB: Eric García—7.6: Wearing a face mask following last weekend's unfortunate nose fracture, García showed no signs of being hindered by the protective gear.

CB: Pau Cubarsí—7.3: Characteristically composed and central to Barça's early build-up play.

CB: Gerard Martín—6.8: Martín was on the receiving end of a facial blow this time around and was substituted at halftime with a bloody nose.

LB: Xavi Espart—7.6: Deployed at left back once again, the teenager looks capable of filling any role effectively. His nimble footwork for the opener hints at a future in a more advanced position—as does the error that gifted Levante their opening goal.

DM: Rodri—8.1: Among the leaders in defensive contributions and touches—a quintessential Rodri display.

DM: Pedri—6.9: After an energetic hour of work, Pedri was rested for the final stages with the result already secured.

RW: Lamine Yamal—9.2: A constant menace for Levante's backline once he got into his stride. The teenager's slow start to the campaign is firmly in the past, having scored braces in each of his last three La Liga outings.

AM: Fermín López—6.9: A subdued afternoon in the Valencian sunshine for the 23-year-old, who was largely peripheral to Barça's best moments.

LW: Anthony Gordon—6.9: A similarly quiet outing for the Englishman, with much of Barcelona's attacking play channeled through the opposite flank.

ST: Raphinha—8.8: Two more assists today for La Liga's standout performer of the season so far. There is no better footballer currently absent from the Ballon d'Or nominees list.

SUB: Andreas Christensen (45' for Gerard Martín)—7.3: The Dane has rarely put a foot wrong when called upon this season, though he was unfortunate to enter the fray as Barça's intensity dipped and Levante gained a foothold.

SUB: Dani Olmo (66' for Lamine Yamal)—6.0: Had little impact in a wider role.

SUB: Marc Bernal (66' for Pedri)—7.4: The youngster created two chances and registered an assist during his brief cameo.

SUB: Karim Adeyemi (67' for Anthony Gordon)—7.6: Injected much-needed energy when things became surprisingly nervy for Barça.

SUB: João Cancelo (80' for Xavi Espart)—N/A

Subs not used: Wojciech Szczęsny (GK), Dominik Livaković(GK), Alejandro Balde, Jules Koundé, Gavi, Gabriel Jesus, Hamza Abdelkarim.

What the Ratings Tell Us

The Numbers That Explain Barça's High-Scoring Win