Barcelona vs. Levante: Score and Reaction from 2015 La Liga Match

Barcelona defeated Levante 4-1 at the Camp Nou on Sunday night, with the La Liga holders cruising to victory without having to hit top gear.

Goals from Marc Bartra, Neymar and two from Lionel Messi gave the champions the points, with Victor Casadesus scoring a consolation for Levante.

Barca coach Luis Enrique shuffled the pack for his team selection, leaving Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta on the bench. He started with 20-year-old Spain prodigy Munir and compatriot Sandro Ramirez. 

Dani Alves returned to the starting XI after injury, with Adriano preferred to Jordi Alba at left-back.

WhoScored.com highlighted a pertinent fact before the match, with Barca used to scoring lots of goals against this opponent in previous games:

The first half was a dull affair as the home side struggled to hit the target on a regular basis. The rotation had clearly affected the early fluidity of the team, with both Lionel Messi and Neymar looking less effective than usual. 

Levante sat deep as the Blaugrana looked to penetrate. Alves was given the run of the wing as his opposing number failed to pick him up, but the Brazilian's efforts were in vain as countless attacks refused to bear fruit.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Barca's play was too intricate and deliberate, allowing the visitors to read the obvious play, keeping the score goalless at half-time.

Neymar and Messi both went close in the closing moments of the half, but Levante were secure in their 5-3-2 formation.

WhoScored.com called the vital stats at half-time, showing how dominant the home team had been despite their lack of expected goals:

Despite a lack of goal action in the first 45 minutes, the second half was an all-too-different affair for Levante as they conceded three goals in a 15-minute period.

Central defender Bartra finished with aplomb just after the restart, taking down a Messi chipped cross on his chest and finishing with the skill of a striker. 

Sky Sports La Liga shared the moment on social media:

It was 2-0 just minutes later as Neymar found his way onto the scoresheet, bundling home a scrappy goal as he squeezed his shot past a number of defenders.

The Brazilian magician was then brought down and fouled after a run into the box, leaving Messi the easy task of hitting the roof of the net from the penalty spot to make it three on the night. 

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Football writer Rafael Hernandez commented on the upturn of performance by Barca and compared Messi to two former European greats:

However, Levante pegged a surprise goal back just after the hour mark as Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen presented Casadesus with a simple tap-in after failing to punch a cross clear.

Spanish football writer Sid Lowe called the action and criticised the stopper:

ESPN's Dermot Corrigan also berated the German for his mistake, with the 'keeper's recent performances fluctuating in consistency:   

Barca had the chance to wrap up the result after 75 minutes; Messi was hauled to the ground as Zouhair Feddal gave away a second penalty. But the Argentinian captain could not repeat his feat from moments before, and the mercurial attacker fired his shot over the bar.

However, Messi made up for the miss in the final minute of the game, running through the centre with the ball at his feet and burying his shot in the back of the net—capping off Barca's easy 4-1 win.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

It was a straightforward evening for Barcelona despite their inability to score goals in the first half. The opening part of the match was too easy for Levante, but they couldn't sustain their strong defensive action after the break.

Enrique took the opportunity to play some of his fringe talent on the night, and the move didn't affect the security of the result once Messi and Neymar slipped through the gears.

It certainly wasn't the world-class pair's greatest night in Blaugrana shirts, but the opposition simply did not have the class to attain a result.

Post-Match Reaction 

Barca coach Luis Enrique spoke about Messi's penalty miss in the second half, but claimed the Argentinian is still a footballer from another planet, per Corrigan:

Barcelona and Levante both feature again in La Liga on Wednesday night as the Blaugrana face a tough trip to Celta Vigo, and Les Granotes host Eibar.