Valencia, 15 September 2026. Barcelona snatched a 4:2 victory over Levante, and Lamine Yamal scored a brace, extending the Catalans' flawless run. But behind the striking numbers lies a more complex picture: Hansi Flick's team still leads La Liga, three points clear of Real Madrid, yet its defence has once again shown a crack in the closing stages.
Yamal opened the scoring in the 19th minute after a pass from Raphinha, then converted a penalty early in the second half. Earlier, the young defender Xavi Espart had made his mark — his goal in the fifth minute was his first in a Barça shirt. Levante responded with goals from Iván Romero and Roger Brugué, exposing the Catalans' problems in defence.
After the match, Flick admitted: "It was not our best game. In the second half we dropped off a little." The team that began the season with five straight wins showed that even when dominating early on, it is vulnerable to counterattacks and individual errors.
Particularly alarming is the moment involving a mistake by Marc Bernal, which allowed Brugué to reduce the deficit. Such episodes recall how Barcelona dropped points last season because of lapses in concentration late on. Yamal, by contrast, looks like the embodiment of a new era: the 18-year-old winger not only scores but also wins penalties, setting the rhythm of the attack.
Karim Adeyemi's substitution in stoppage time proved decisive — his solo run and goal put the matter to rest. This is not merely a result but a signal: Barcelona can close out matches thanks to the depth of their squad, but the price of victory grows with every game.
New tests lie ahead. For now, Yamal's brace and the lead in the table suggest that Flick's team is building not just a winning run but a new identity, in which youth and experience must coexist with discipline in defence.
