Lionel Messi marked his 400th appearance in La Liga with the opening goal as Barcelona eased to a 3-0 win over Levante at the Camp Nou on Sunday.
Messi’s 365th goal in Spain’s top flight came inside 12 minutes, with Luis Suarez adding the second before the interval and Paulinho completing the victory late on as Barcelona stretched their lead at the top of the table back to nine points over Atletico Madrid.
The Catalans are still unbeaten in La Liga this season and have Philippe Coutinho to come in, with the Brazilian expected to be officially unveiled as a Barcelona player on Monday following the announcement of his 160 million-euro ($192 million) move from Liverpool.
But it was Messi who broke the deadlock from a Jordi Alba assist, a combination that has proved fruitful on so many occasions this season.
The Argentine’s flighted pass found Alba, and the left-back headed the ball down for Messi, arriving in the area, to finish first-time in off the far post for his 16th league goal of the campaign.
The second goal arrived seven minutes before the interval, as Suarez controlled Sergi Roberto’s fine ball into the box before firing home.
It was the Uruguayan’s 400th professional goal, his 131st for Barca putting him seventh on the club’s all-time list of leading scorers.
Here, we rate the players from both sides.
BARCELONA
Ter Stegen 6. A quiet afternoon in goal for the German, with Levante managing to send most of their few decent chances off target, but he did make one excellent save with his foot to deny Moore.
Roberto 7. Worked hard in the right-back position and came forward well to deliver an excellent cross for Suarez’s goal. Understandably, there was little sign of any chemistry with Dembele down the right. Later moved into midfield.
Mascherano 6. Received a very warm reception from home fans on what could be his last game before leaving for China. Made one poor clearance to give Ivi a chance but was otherwise solid and tenacious.
Vermaelen 6. Initially troubled by the pace and movement of Boateng, but grew into the game and made an excellent recovery challenge on the edge of his own area after a rare loose ball from Rakitic.
Alba 8. Another outstanding display by a player who has become arguably his team’s second-most attacking creator (after you-know-who). Teed up Messi for the opener with an overlapping run and tidy headed assist, and also carried out his defensive chores well.
Dembele 6. Looked lost early on but gradually became more settled in his right-wing role. Had a couple of chances to score, seeing one weak shot from a rebound blocked and forcing a good save after an incisive run. Swapped to the left wing near the end of first half and was replaced midway through the second. Overall a decidedly mixed bag.
Paulinho 6. Quiet but competent in the centre of midfield. Overran one chance in the dying seconds of the first half and continued making runs into the box right until stoppage time, when he completed the scoring with an easy finish from Messi’s cross.
Rakitic 7. A very assured performance in the defensive midfield position to replace the suspended Sergio Busquets. Showed positional discipline and a good range of passing, and came close to scoring by smashing a long-range volley just wide.
Iniesta 7. Made some timeless surges down the inside left channel, especially during the first-half, showing new signing Philippe Coutinho exactly what he has to replace. Less impactful later on and, as usual these days, substituted with 15 minutes left.
Messi 7. Far from his best performance, losing possession with unusual frequency. But he still scored the opener, went close with a couple of free-kicks, created Paulinho’s late goal and drew two yellow cards. So hardly a disaster.
Suarez 7. Had ‘one of those days’ early on, missing a couple of good chances by having one shot saved and firing another over the bar. But he made amends with a fierce finish for the second goal, and came close again in the second home. Worked his socks off, as always.
SUBS
Semedo 6. Replaced Dembele midway through the second half, doing a decent job at right-back and getting forward to good effect on a couple of occasions.
Gomes 6. Replaced Iniesta for the final 15 minutes and showed one nifty flash of skill to beat his man inside the box and deliver a dangerous cross.
Arnaiz. Made his league debut by replacing Roberto for the final stages. The 22 year-old went onto the left wing but had little chance to make an impact.
LEVANTE
Oier 7. The former Barca keeper punched clear an early Messi free-kick and made a couple of decent saves to deny Suarez. Had no chance with the goals.
Moore 5. The American right-back had his hands full with Alba and rarely got forward, but one exception came midway through the second half when he raced clear on goal and should have scored, but shot too close to ter Stegen.
Cabaco 7. The best defender for Levante, working hard to contain Suarez and making some important interventions inside the box.
Postigo 5. Got a deflection on Suarez’s shot for the second goal and earned a yellow card for a reckless scythe on Messi.
Luna 6. Containing the dual threat of Messi and Dembele meant he couldn’t get forward to his usual effect, but did a good enough job defensively in a stiff examination.
Doukoure 5. Summed up an ineffectual performance by steering his team’s last chance of the game over the bar from a good position. Little impact in defence or attack.
Lukic 6. Steady in the centre of midfield, regularly nullifying the runs of Paulinho and Messi towards the penalty area and generally using the ball well.
Lerma 4. Wasted two good chances by blazing the first over and dragging the second well wide. Booked for a wild lunge on Messi and was skating on thin ice before being substituted after an hour.
Jason 6. Little involvement in general play but did create his team’s best chance with a good run and well-weighted pass into the stride of Moore. Showed his talent but needed to show it more often.
Boateng 6. A hard-working and at times dangerous performance from the centre forward, who made a couple of penetrative early bursts to win corners and set up a good chance for Lerma. But ultimately lacking in end product and was replaced.
Ivi 7. Produced some nice touches down the left, had one dangerous shot deflected wide and forced an excellent save from ter Stegen with another powerful long-range strike. Levante’s brightest player.
SUBS
Pier 5. Came on for final half-hour and certainly put himself about, making a couple of hard fouls on Messi and later getting booked for a late challenge on Rakitic.
Nano 4. Replaced Boateng in attack but was less effective than the man who started.
Samu. A late sub on the right wing but had little involvement.
