Barcelona survive Cuñat's masterclass: A relegation battle that nearly wasn't

Pflichttermin Futmetrix-Wertung: 100/100. When a team fighting for survival stands toe-to-toe with the league's second-placed side and nearly steals it, football reminds us why we're obsessed.

Levante strikes first, Barcelona's intensity overwhelms

Levante came to fight. Iván Romero capitalised on a defensive lapse in the 15th minute, assisted by Toljan, to hand the strugglers an unlikely lead. By the 45th minute, José Luis Morales had doubled their advantage from the penalty spot—VAR confirmed the call. The stakes were astronomical: Levante, pointless after two matches, smelled their first win.

Then Barcelona remembered who they are. Between minutes 45 and 52, they detonated. Pedri (8.5 rating) pulled one back in the 49th after a clinical finish from Lamine Yamal's pass. Three minutes later, Ferran Torres completed the turnaround courtesy of Raphinha's assist. The balance shifted seismically. Barcelona dominated with 26 shots to Levante's 8.

Cuñat's nine-save wall against the deluge

Yet the hero here is Pablo Cuñat (8.2 rating). The Levante goalkeeper was a fortress—nine saves that kept his team alive when Barcelona unleashed 34 total attempts with 15 on target. Without Cuñat's brilliance, this becomes a rout. An 90th-minute own goal from Unai Elgezabal sealed the 2-3, but the narrative was already written: Levante lost, but earned respect on a night when intensity and balance collided in a five-goal thriller.