Barcelona cruised to victory on Sunday, beating Levante 3-0, in the absence of their suspended manager Ronald Koeman.
Just six minutes into the game, Memphis Depay scored from the spot, converting the penalty he was awarded after being fouled in the box by Nemanja Radoja.
It was another Dutchman who gave Barça their two-goal cushion as Sergino Dest’s pass found Luuk de Jong – who scored his first goal for the club since joining on loan from Sevilla.
18 year old Ansu Fati came off the bench to put the game to bed, a goal he’ll be particularly pleased with after having only just returned from a long term injury.
Barcelona have now moved up to 5th position in La Liga, and although they are five points adrift of the leaders Real Madrid, the Catalans have a game in hand.
Real Madrid are still undefeated this season, but will certainly feel that their 0-0 draw with Villareal on Saturday is two points lost rather than one gained.
It has been a shaky start for Barça, however. The victory over Levante was only their second league win of the season with five games played.
Koeman’s absence was a result of being dismissed for losing his cool with the referee last Thursday as his side took on Cadiz. Despite his suspension, his team did a fine job of bringing their three match winless streak to an end.
Levante, on the other hand, did not even manage to muster a shot until the 81st minute, and if it hadn’t been for a number of saves from Aitor Fernandez, the Catalans would have scored more.
The upset of the weekend took place in the Basque Country as Alaves managed to cling on to their one goal lead, gained in the fourth minute, for the rest of the game against the defending champions Atlético Madrid.
A header in the fourth minute from Viktor Lagaurdia was the only goal of the game, despite Atlético dominating throughout and having 71% possession.
The draw means that Sevilla move up into second place, after their 2-0 win over Espanyol. The Sevillanos have played one game less than Atlético, who they have now leapfrogged, and Real Madrid who sit above them in first.
La Liga Results
Sunday 26 September
Mallorca 2 Osasuna 3
Barcelona 3 Levante 0
Rayo Vallecano 3 Cádiz 1
Real Sociedad 1 Elche 0
Real Betis 2 Getafe 0
Saturday 25 September
Alavés 1 Atlético Madrid 0
Valencia 1 Athletic Bilbao 1
Sevilla 2 Espanyol 0
Real Madrid 0 Villarreal 0
Thursday 23 September
Granada 2 Real Sociedad 3
Osasuna 1 Real Betis 3
Cádiz 0 Barcelona 0
Wednesday 22 September
Espanyol 1 Alavés 0
Sevilla 3 Valencia 1
Real Madrid 6 Mallorca 1
Villarreal 4 Elche 1
Tuesday 21 September
Getafe 1 Atlético Madrid 2
Athletic Bilbao 1 Rayo Vallecano 2
Levante 0 Celta Vigo 2
Monday 20 September
Barcelona 1 Granada 1
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