Barcelona booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey courtesy of a 3-0 win over Levante in the second leg of their last-16 tie at Camp Nou.
Levante entered the match with an advantage having recorded a 2-1 victory when the pair met in the first leg last week.
Barcelona turned things around on home soil, however, with a double from Ousmane Dembele and a Lionel Messi goal handing the holders a 4-2 aggregate success.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute coverage of the action below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the second leg of the Copa del Rey last-16 tie between Barcelona and Levante from Camp Nou. Barcelona have work to do if they are to advance to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey having suffered a 2-1 defeat to Levante in the first leg of their last-16 tie last week. A late Philippe Coutinho penalty saw Barcelona register in the first leg, but Levante will take an advantage into the second leg at Camp Nou courtesy of an impressive win. Stay tuned!
TEAMS
BARCELONA: Cillessen; Semedo, Murillo, Lenglet, Alba; Rakitic, Arthur, Vidal; Dembele, Messi, Coutinho
LEVANTE: Aitor; Suarez, Postigo, Cabaco; Coke, Campana, Prcic, Simon; Mayoral, Bardhi, Boateng
As expected, Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde has selected a stronger and more experienced XI than the one that started the first leg. Jeison Murillo keeps his spot at the back, but Ivan Rakitic, Arthur and Lionel Messi all come into the XI. There is no Luis Suarez, however, with Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho joining Messi in attack. Jasper Cillessen is again between the sticks.
As for Levante, on-loan Real Madrid forward Borja Mayoral was excellent in the first leg last week and the Spaniard continues in attack. Emmanuel Boateng also impressed in the first leg and starts, with Moses Simon and Aitor Fernandez also earning spots in the XI. Head coach Paco Lopez has resisted the urge to start star player Jose Luis Morales, but Enis Bardhi does come into the Levante XI tonight. Can the away side shock Camp Nou and book their spot in the last eight? Stay tuned!
These two teams will be locking horns in the Copa del Rey for the first time in four years, but the last time did not end well for Levante, who were thumped 9-2 on aggregate by Barcelona. Right, both sets of players are on the field and kickoff at Camp Nou is now just seconds away!
KICKOFF: Barcelona kick things off on home soil tonight...
... far from a full house at Camp Nou, but there is a good atmosphere inside the stadium. Can Levante complete the job tonight? A certain Messi has been called for to turn this tie around.
There was controversy ahead of the match with reports in Spain claiming that Barcelona could be disqualified from the Copa del Rey if the relevant authorities decide that they have fielded an ineligible player in the competition. The individual in question is centre-back Chumi Brandariz, who Levante feel should not have played in the first leg last week due to a suspension earned with Barcelona B.
However, Barcelona are believed to be calm regarding the situation, with the Spanish champions certain that the rules have been changed and they have therefore not broken any rules. Real Madrid were famously expelled from the 2015-16 Copa del Rey for fielding Denis Cheryshev in a last-32 match against Cadiz when the Russian should have been serving a suspension earned at Villarreal.
Barcelona landed their 30th Copa del Rey crown last season and have been utterly dominant in this competition in recent years. Indeed, they have lifted the trophy in each of the last four campaigns and have been present in all but one of the last eight finals, which is some record. As it stands, they are heading out, but there is a long night ahead. Not much to report thus far though.
Barcelona are going to take some stopping in La Liga this season, but there is no question that the Catalan giants would trade another Copa del Rey title in for the Champions League. The Spaniards will face Lyon over two legs in the round of 16 next month and will be desperate to land their first European title since 2015. The Copa del Rey is still an important competition though and the fact that Messi has been recalled for tonight's match is an indication of that.
Barcelona made it six straight La Liga wins on Sunday night with a 3-0 home success over Eibar. The Catalan giants once again have a five-point advantage over second-placed Atletico Madrid at the summit and are in a strong position to retain the title. We are now at 12 minutes in this second leg and not an awful lot has happened aside from some sharp passing from the home side.
It will not come as a surprise to learn that Levante have never won the Copa del Rey, while they have not been past the quarter-finals since 1935. Lopez's team beat Lugo in the round of 32 to progress to this stage and as it stands, will be present in the quarter-finals of the competition. The visitors are proving difficult to break down here despite Barcelona having loads of the possession.
SAVE! Flying save from Aitor to keep out a super free kick from Messi!
It is a huge ask to expect Levante to win at Camp Nou tonight, but their positive result in the first leg has given the team something to protect. The first goal will be key in this match and Barcelona have certainly given teams chances this season, with Real Betis, Athletic Bilbao and Girona all picking up positive results at Camp Nou during the 2018-19 campaign.
SHOT! Coutinho smashes a powerful effort over the Levante crossbar!
Promoted from the Segunda Division as winners in 2017, Levante earned another season of La Liga football by finishing 15th in the top flight last term. The Frogs have now been present in eight of the last nine La Liga campaigns and will be looking to secure another season of top-flight action. As it stands, they are 12th in the table following their 1-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid.
It is advantage Levante in this last-16 tie with the Valencia-based outfit putting in a fine performance on home soil last week. At 2-0, Levante would have really fancied their chances, but Coutinho's late penalty was a real hammer blow. Not too much has concerned Levante in the first 22 minutes here, however, aside from a Messi free kick and wild Coutinho attempt which flew over.
Barcelona ran out 5-0 winners when they travelled to Levante in the league on December 16, but the Frogs did record a 5-4 victory when the pair met in Valencia last season. Levante's last trip to Barcelona came in January 2018, with the hosts running out 3-0 winners in the La Liga affair.
SAVE! Comfortable save for Aitor Fernandez to keep out a low Vidal strike.
Levante boss Lopez had a decision to make tonight over the involvement of star player Jose Luis Morales, who started on the bench in the first leg. Morales is again on the bench here, but the flying winger will surely be introduced in the second period when there are some tired legs.
SAVE! So close to 1-0! Messi breaks into a shooting position before looking to fire into the bottom corner, but Aitor Fernandez manages to save it wide of the goal!
CLOSE! Murillo heads a Barcelona corner over the Levante crossbar.
CLOSE! Super work from Messi once again as the Argentine dances into a dangerous position before finding the head of Vidal, but his effort bounces into the ground and over!
CLOSE! Levante are living dangerously at the moment as Barcelona continue to force the issue in the final third of the field. Messi looks in the mood tonight, while Vidal is also seemingly intent on getting his name on the scoresheet. Arthur has just sent one curling wide!
GOAL! BARCELONA 1-0 LEVANTE (DEMBELE)
Barcelona make the breakthrough in the 30th minute and it is Dembele on the scoresheet, but it is very fortunate! Messi releases Dembele inside the Levante box and it bounces off Postigo onto the Frenchman and into the back of the net. Dembele does not mind though!
GOAL! BARCELONA 2-0 LEVANTE (DEMBELE)
Another for Dembele! Barcelona score their second as Messi again releases Dembele and the Frenchman rounds the Levante goalkeeper before sliding into the back of the net!
YELLOW CARD! Postigo (Levante) is booked for a foul on Messi.
Levante are finding it very difficult to get into the game at the moment as Barcelona continue to move the ball in the final third of the field. Messi, once again, has been really excellent here.
SAVE! Cillessen is on hand to keep out a strike from Campana.
Just a few signs of life from Levante in the last couple of minutes and one goal for the visitors would leave the tie all square. Levante are far from out of this last-16 clash.
SAVE! Smart save from Aitor Fernandez to deny Messi from close range!
Possession football from Barcelona at the moment as they continue to move the ball.
CLOSE! Dembele misses the Levante post with an attempt. Messi again released the Frenchman, but his effort was never threatening to find the back of the net. Still 2-0 on the night.
YELLOW CARD! Rakitic (Barcelona) is booked for a foul on Mayoral.
SAVE! Coutinho sees his low attempt saved by Aitor Fernandez! The Levante stopper then keeps out Messi and Vidal. Barcelona could have scored six in the first period.
SAVE! Coutinho sees his low attempt saved by Aitor Fernandez! The Levante stopper then keeps out Messi and Vidal. Barcelona could have scored six in the first period.
YELLOW CARD! Murillo (Barcelona) is booked for a foul on Boateng.
HALF TIME: BARCELONA 2-0 LEVANTE (BARCELONA LEAD 3-2 ON AGGREGATE)
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Barcelona leading Levante 2-0 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate. Levante entered tonight's match with a 2-1 aggregate lead, but Dembele has scored twice for the Spanish champions in the first 45 minutes here.
STATISTICS! Barcelona had 72% of the possession in the first period, while they managed 16 attempts, 10 of which were on target. Levante, meanwhile, failed to hit the target with either of their two attempts. Three yellows to report here, with Postigo, Rakitic and Murillo all in the book.
BENCH WATCH! Doukoure, Tono, Morales and Jason are among those on the Levante bench tonight and we will surely see at least two of those in the second period. Barcelona, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Alena, Busquets, Pique, Roberto, Denis Suarez and Luis Suarez.
KICKOFF: Levante resume the action here...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops here.
I would be astounded if we had seen the last of the goals in this match, especially considering that Levante will need to open up as the clock ticks on. Messi, Dembele and Coutinho as a front three have been absolutely excellent tonight. Will Luis Suarez struggle to get back in? The answer is no because the Uruguay international has been sensational in La Liga this season.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Coutinho has the ball in the back of the Levante net following a clever pass from Messi, but the offside flag is raised. It was another super pass from Messi!
SHOT! Dembele goes to ground inside the Levante box and the home supporters want a penalty, but the referee is not interested. Arthur then misses the crossbar with an attempt.
GOAL! BARCELONA 3-0 LEVANTE (MESSI)
Barcelona have their third of the night as Messi collects a super pass from Semedo before dinking the ball into the bottom corner of the net. That might be game, set and match.
Levante just have not turned up tonight. It has been difficult due to Barcelona's domination, but it has been a disappointing performance from the visitors, who were so impressive last week.
Little over 30 minutes of normal time remaining in this second leg. Well, not just normal time, but time in general for this tie. There will be no extra-time following Barcelona's third goal.
Levante are currently losing 4-2 on aggregate, but two goals for Levante would put them ahead on away goals. Sounds pretty simple, but Barcelona do not look in the mood to let this slip.
LEVANTE SUB! Mayoral is replaced by Dwamena for Levante.
SAVE! Smart save from Aitor to keep out a low strike from Coutinho!
BARCELONA SUB! Luis Suarez replaces Coutinho for Barcelona.
No sign of a comeback from Levante at the moment. The visitors need two unanswered goals to take charge of this last-16 tie. Absolutely no sign of any threat at the moment though.
LEVANTE SUB! Doukoure replaces Campana for the away side.
CLOSE! Boateng smashes wide of the Barcelona post after driving away from Lenglet!
LEVANTE SUB! Another Levante change, this time enforced as Postigo limps off the field with Jason entering. That is all three changes for Levante with 20 minutes still to play here.
Interesting to see Denis Suarez on the Barcelona bench tonight. Rumours linking the Spaniard with a move to Arsenal will not go away, but he is involved for the first team tonight.
CLOSE! Dembele sees a powerful strike just miss the far post!
BARCELONA SUB! Roberto replaces Alba for Barcelona.
YELLOW CARD! Cabaco (Levante) goes into the book for a poor challenge on Dembele.
BARCELONA SUB! Denis Suarez replaces Dembele for the home side.
Smart handling from Cillessen to collect a flicked header from Cabaco inside the Barcelona box. Little over 10 minutes of normal time remaining and Barcelona still lead 3-0 on the night.
Levante have a free kick just outside the Barcelona box as Boateng is felled...
... Bardhi sees his free kick hit the Barcelona wall.
Levante were excellent in the first leg last week, but they have just not done enough in tonight's match to deserve to advance to the quarter-finals of the competition.
YELLOW CARD! Prcic (Levante) is booked for a foul on Murillo.
Messi and Luis Suarez again combine in the final third of the field, but the final pass into the former is just too strong and Aitor can collect. Messi tonight has been a genius once again.
Bit of pressure from Levante in the latter stages, but Barcelona clear their lines.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Denis Suarez as Roberto finds the midfielder inside the Levante box, but he has a fresh-air shot! The less said about that contact the better!
We are into the first of three minutes of added time at the end of the 90 here.
OFF THE POST! Huge chance for Levante, but Boateng hits the woodwork!
Boateng stretched to meet a low cross, but his effort hit the post. Levante have certainly had chances to get their name on the scoresheet, but Barcelona could have scored five or six.
YELLOW CARD! Rober (Levante) is booked for dissent.
FULL TIME: BARCELONA 3-0 LEVANTE (BARCELONA WIN 4-2 ON AGGREGATE)
So there we have it. Barcelona book their spot in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey with a 3-0 win over Levante in the second leg of their last-16 tie. Dembele (2) and Messi scored the goals for the holders. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again!
