Pedri Sparks Barcelona’s Dramatic Comeback Against Levante
What a night of football it was in Valencia. If anyone thought this would be a routine evening for Barcelona, they were proven very wrong. Hansi Flick, who is usually praised for his calm and calculated approach, decided to experiment with his tactics — and it nearly cost his team everything. By halftime, Barcelona were staring at a 2–0 deficit against Levante, and the atmosphere was one of disbelief.
The first half belonged entirely to the home side. Flick had shuffled his midfield, giving minutes to Casadó and pushing Raphinha into an unusual central role behind Ferran Torres. But that experiment simply did not work. Casadó was unable to control the tempo or stop Levante’s counterattacks, and the midfield looked exposed. Lamine Yamal, usually a source of creativity, was shut down brilliantly by Manu Sánchez, who won nearly every duel on that side. Levante’s plan was simple but effective: defend deep and strike quickly.
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That approach paid off early when Iván Romero took advantage of Barcelona’s shaky back line and scored in the 14th minute. Things only got worse just before halftime. Another misplaced ball by Yamal led to a counterattack, and after a handball in the box, the referee awarded a penalty. Morales stepped up and made it 2–0 in the 51st minute, sending Levante fans into celebration while Barça players walked off the pitch looking lost.
But football is about momentum, and one spark can change everything. Flick, realizing his mistake, made two crucial changes at the break: Dani Olmo and Gavi were brought in for Rashford and Casadó. Immediately, Barcelona looked transformed. The ball moved quicker, the pressing was sharper, and the comeback was on.
Just three minutes after the restart, Pedri delivered. A short corner was worked to him outside the box, and the young Canary Islander struck a beautiful shot that flew into the net. Suddenly, belief returned. Moments later, another corner ended with Ferran Torres finishing calmly from close range, making it 2–2. In the blink of an eye, Levante’s advantage had vanished.
Still, the hosts refused to give up. They kept pushing, forcing Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García into two excellent saves. But with Lewandowski introduced to add more weight up front and Gavi dictating play, the visitors had the upper hand. Levante defended bravely until the very last minute, but fate turned cruel. In stoppage time, a low cross from Yamal — who had struggled most of the night — was turned into his own net by Elgezabal. Barcelona had completed the turnaround: from despair to a 3–2 victory.
The result was harsh on Levante, who had worked tirelessly, but it highlighted one truth — Pedri remains the heartbeat of Barcelona. Flick’s tactical gamble nearly backfired, yet thanks to his midfielder’s brilliance and a late stroke of luck, Barça left Valencia with all three points. For Levante, it was heartbreak. For Barcelona, it was a reminder that even on a chaotic night, individual quality can rescue the team.
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