Barça secures a new victory, not without suffering, against a Levante side that made things very difficult. The "granotas" took the lead in the first half with goals from Morales and Iván Romero. After halftime, Flick brought on Dani Olmo and Gavi to change the match.
An unexpected result
The first half couldn't have started worse for Flick's team, as it was losing 1-0 after fifteen minutes of play. Manu Sánchez recovered the ball, switched play to Toljan, who passed it to Iván Romero, and he beat Joan after a good cut.
From that point on, although Barça took control of the ball, it had several scares with some "granotas" counterattacks. The clearest chance for the "culés" was for Ferran, but his shot hit the crossbar. However, as the first half was coming to an end, Levante was going to increase its lead.
It was thanks to a penalty, for a controversial handball by Balde, that Morales scored from the penalty spot. The ball bounced off the full-back's hand as he tried to turn around. The penalty was awarded after a VAR review, in which Hernández Hernández confirmed the decision.
Comeback "in extremis"
Flick's team started the second half like a cyclone, to the point that it tied the match within a few minutes. First, Pedri from outside the box with a ball that went into the top corner. Then, Ferran, who got ahead of his defender and finished Raphinha's cross to make it 2-2.
As the minutes passed, Levante kept dropping back due to the pressure from the "blaugranas," mainly from Lamine. The "10" "culé" took the team on his back; in fact, the clearest chances came from his side. Flick switched to a back three, with Raphinha as a wing-back, and the change worked.
In stoppage time, a pinpoint cross from Lamine was headed by Elgezabal into his own net. This completed the "culé" comeback, overcoming a 2-0 deficit and securing another three points. Flick's next match will be against Rayo Vallecano in Vallecas, while Levante will face Elche.
Technical sheet
Levante UD: Cuñat, Dela, Elgezabal, Cabello, Manu Sánchez (Pampín 76'), Toljan (Victor García 86'), Pablo Martínez, Oriol Rey, Brugé (Espí 76'), Morales (Carlos Álvarez 59'), Iván Romero (Losada 76')
FC Barcelona: Joan García, Éric García (Koundé 85'), Araujo (Christensen 76'), Cubarsí, Balde (Lewandowski 76'), Casadó (Gavi 46'), Pedri, Raphinha, Ferran, Rashford (Dani Olmo 46'), Lamine Yamal
Goals: Iván Romero (1-0), Morales (2-0), Pedri (2-1), Ferran (2-2), Egezabal (o.g. 2-3)
Cards: Balde, Pablo Martínez, Morales, Pampín
Referee: Alejandro José Hernández Hernández
Stadium: Ciutat de Valencia