Levante 0-5 Barcelona

Lionel Messi has scored three goals in four La Liga matches this season

Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona to a crushing victory over Levante as Luis Enrique's team continued their perfect start to the season.

Messi set up Neymar to give the visitors the lead before missing a first-half penalty after he was fouled by Loukas Vyntra, who was sent off.

Barcelona doubled their lead through Ivan Rakitic, before Messi's pass allowed Sandro Ramirez to make it 3-0.

Pedro made it 4-0 and Messi added a fifth as Barcelona went top of La Liga.

Magic Messi
Lionel Messi has been directly involved in more goals than any other player in La Liga this season (three goals, four assists)

Sevilla had earlier leapfrogged Barca after a 3-1 win at Cordoba.

But the 22-time champions of Spain went two points clear at the summit after their biggest win since Enrique took charge in the summer.

The Catalans have won all four league games, scoring 11 times, and have yet to concede.

They also edged past Apoel Nicosia 1-0 in the Champions League group stage on 17 September.

Neymar has scored three goals in his last two La Liga appearances

This win was every bit as comfortable as the scoreline suggests, although there was one moment of concern when Neymar landed awkwardly after a challenge.

The Brazil forward eventually climbed to his feet before being helped off the pitch with what appeared to be an ankle problem.

However, the injury is not thought to be serious, with Neymar clearly disappointed that he was not allowed to continue.

Barcelona are next in action on Wednesday when they travel to mid-table Malaga, while Sevilla entertain Real Sociedad on the same evening.

Levante were forced to play with 10 men for 50 minutes after Vyntra (left) was sent off for fouling Messi

Messi has now failed to score four penalties in La Liga

Rakitic scored his first goal for Barcelona since joining from Sevilla

Ramirez, 19, has scored two goals in three La Liga games this season

Pedro (centre) scored two hat-tricks in La Liga for Barcelona last season

Messi was all smiles after making up for his penalty miss with Barcelona's fifth goal

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Levante

Formation 4-3-3

1Fernández Collado

19López Muñoz6Vyntra5Rodas3García Aranda

23Diop24Mate Junior26Camarasa

11Morales Nogales18Casadesús Castaño7Barral

• 1Fernández Collado
• 19López Muñoz
• 6VyntraBooked at 41mins
• 5Rodas
• 3García Aranda
• 23DiopSubstituted forSissokoat 61'minutes
• 24Mate Junior
• 26Camarasa
• 11Morales NogalesBooked at 39minsSubstituted forIvanschitzat 58'minutes
• 18Casadesús Castaño
• 7BarralSubstituted forGarcía Santosat 72'minutes

Substitutes

• 8El Zhar
• 10García Santos
• 13Mariño
• 17Xumetra
• 20Pérez Alonso
• 21Ivanschitz
• 22Sissoko

Barcelona

Formation 4-3-3

13Bravo

22Alves da Silva14Mascherano18Alba24Mathieu

4Rakitic5Busquets8Iniesta

10Messi7Pedro11Neymar

• 13Bravo
• 22Alves da Silva
• 14MascheranoBooked at 36mins
• 18Alba
• 24Mathieu
• 4Rakitic
• 5BusquetsBooked at 43minsSubstituted forHernándezat 62'minutes
• 8IniestaSubstituted forRoberto Carnicerat 71'minutes
• 10Messi
• 7Pedro
• 11NeymarSubstituted forRamírezat 51'minutes

Substitutes

• 1ter Stegen
• 2Montoya
• 3Piqué
• 6Hernández
• 20Roberto Carnicer
• 29Ramírez
• 31El Haddadi

Referee:

José Luis González González

Attendance:

22,177

Match Stats

Home TeamLevanteAway TeamBarcelona

Possession

Home25%

Away75%

Shots

Home9

Away17

Shots on Target

Home2

Away8

Corners

Home3

Away6

Fouls

Home13

Away11

Live Text

1. Post update

   Match ends, Levante 0, Barcelona 5.

2. 90'+2'

   Full Time

   Second Half ends, Levante 0, Barcelona 5.

3. 90'+1'

   Post update

   Foul by Sergi Roberto (Barcelona).

4. 90'+1'

   Post update

   Mohamed Sissoko (Levante) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

5. 89'

   Post update

   Attempt saved. Dani Alves (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Pedro.

6. 87'

   Post update

   Lionel Messi (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

7. 87'

   Post update

   Foul by Toño (Levante).

8. 81'

   Post update

   Offside, Barcelona. Ivan Rakitic tries a through ball, but Dani Alves is caught offside.

9. 77'

   Goal!

   Goal! Levante 0, Barcelona 5. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.

10. 77'

    Post update

    Attempt saved. Jeremy Mathieu (Barcelona) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lionel Messi.

11. 73'

    Post update

    Attempt blocked. Rubén García (Levante) left footed shot from long range on the right is blocked. Assisted by Pedro López.

12. 72'

    Post update

    Foul by Pedro (Barcelona).

13. 72'

    Post update

    Simao (Levante) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

14. 72'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Levante. Rubén García replaces David Barral.

15. 71'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Barcelona. Sergi Roberto replaces Andrés Iniesta.

16. 68'

    Post update

    Attempt missed. Casadesús (Levante) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.

17. 67'

    Post update

    Offside, Barcelona. Andrés Iniesta tries a through ball, but Dani Alves is caught offside.

18. 66'

    Post update

    Offside, Barcelona. Andrés Iniesta tries a through ball, but Jordi Alba is caught offside.

19. 65'

    Post update

    Offside, Levante. Pedro López tries a through ball, but Casadesús is caught offside.

20. 64'

    Goal!

    Goal! Levante 0, Barcelona 4. Pedro (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jordi Alba.

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