Barcelona returned to La Liga action on Sunday with a home game against Levante and a chance to restore their nine-point lead atop the league table.
In the end, while Levante had their moments, Barcelona cruised to a 3-0 win, with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Paulinho scoring the goals.
Here are Seven Deadly Stats from the game.
MESSI’S STUNNING FORM
Everyone knows Messi has been at his totemic best this season. And, having missed out on the title of top goalscorer last season, he made sure to start the calendar year as he means to go on, breaking the deadlock after 12 minutes on Sunday. He’d go on to provide the assist for Paulinho before the game ended.
Lionel Messi has now been directly involved in 23 goals in his last 17 games in La Liga:
16 goals ⚽
7 assists 🅰️Frightening form. pic.twitter.com/H9xKdZRkx7
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 7, 2018
SUAREZ GETS OVER POOR START…
It wasn’t too long ago that there were concerns over Suarez’s poor form, to the point where some observers thought this could be the start of a permanent decline. The Uruguayan is putting that talk to bed, having rediscovered his scoring touch with a neat finish just before the break.
8 – Luis Suarez has scored in six of his last seven league games for Barcelona (eight goals) – he had only found the net in two of his previous seven (two goals). Streak. pic.twitter.com/E8w0tcLNvN
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 7, 2018
… AND OVERTAKES A BARCELONA GREAT
When it comes to Barcelona, records ,and scoring charts, the talk is usually about Messi. But Suarez has been prolific since joining the club, and it hasn’t taken him long to write his name in Barcelona’s history books. His goal on Sunday took him past Samuel Eto’o on the club’s scoring list.
⚽ With that strike @LuisSuarez9 moves past @setoo9 to go 7th on the all time scoring list at FC Barcelona with 132 goals 👏🔵🔴 #ForçaBarça pic.twitter.com/wzB85K3hmz
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 7, 2018
SERGI ROBERTO FINDING HIS FEET
Sergi Roberto has struggled to get consistent gametime in his preferred midfield berth for Barcelona, and that’s only going to get tougher with the arrival of Philippe Coutinho. But he still finds a way to showcase his talent from right back, and his first-time pass across the box for Suarez’s goal was sublime.
3 – Sergi Roberto has provided an assist in three consecutive La Liga appearances for the first time in his career. Selfless. pic.twitter.com/p6VAQNeZ9H
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 7, 2018
PAULINHO CONTINUES TO SURPRISE
Speaking of midfielders who might have to take a step back once Coutinho is integrated, Paulinho seems like the prime candidate – except, can he really be dropped right now? The season he’s having has taken everyone by surprise, and on current form, deserves to be the first-choice attacking midfielder.
7 – Paulinho has scored more goals than any other midfielder in La Liga this season. Predatory.
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 7, 2018
DEMBELE’S SOLID RETURN
In the midst of the Coutinho fanfare, the last player Barcelona broke their transfer record for – just over four months ago – made his La Liga return. Ousmane Dembele hadn’t played in the league since his injury in September, so his inclusion on the team sheet on Sunday was a welcome sight. And on his return to the Camp Nou, he pulled off the most Barcelona stat possible.
🎯 Ousmane Dembele completed 100% of his passes (35 attempted) on his return to league action from injury for Barcelona vs Levante
Full player profile – https://t.co/e28LsmzqTN pic.twitter.com/NwZHTVBpim
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) January 7, 2018
BARCA BANISH NEW YEAR BLUES
Surprisingly, Barcelona haven’t always made a great return from the winter break. Perhaps it’s the lack of momentum, or maybe it’s just rust, but they hadn’t won their first league game of the year in four years.
FC Barcelona win their first league match of the new year for the first time since the 4-0 home victory against Elche in 2014. #BarcaLevante
— Gracenote Live (@GracenoteLive) January 7, 2018
