Last Sunday, FC Barcelona surrendered their lead in La Liga when they lost in Girona, but it has only taken them a week to recover their place at the top of the pile. While Real Madrid lost 2-1 at Osasuna on Saturday, the Catalans got the job done today with a convincing 3-0 defeat of Levante.

the game as it happened

Marc Bernal and Frenkie de Jong in the first half and Fermin López in the second got the goals on a day that Barça looked back to their old selves, including the welcome sight of Pedri back on the pitch after his absence through injury.

Cancelo on fire

Both sides had already missed simple chances in a dramatic opening four minutes that culminated with Barça taking an early lead through Bernal, making it two goals for the 18-year-old in as many games.

Eric García stroked the ball expertly into the danger area and Bernal was on it like a flash to tuck home past Mathew Ryan.

João Cancelo was the man of the first half as he not only struck the post but also delivered the assist for goal number two. The Al Hilal loanee curled a lovely ball forward and Frenkie de Jong knew exactly how to meet it first and create a two-goal cushion in a game that was proving to be anything but an easy ride.

Fermin makes it three

Levante were creating their own fair share of the danger, with Jon Olasagasti forcing a brilliant save out of Joan García and as the game moved into the second half the visitors still seemed to believe they were able to get something out of this game.

Culer fears that it might actually happen were finally laid to rest after 81 minutes when Fermin López unleashed an absolute thunderbolt from outside the area that bounded in off the post to make it 3-0 and game over.

The same player could have made it four shortly after had Australian stopper Ryan not produced the most amazing reflex save immediately after doing likewise to deny Raphinha.

Pedri back

By now Spotify Camp Nou was in party mode and the biggest reason for that was the joyous sight of Pedri back on the pitch. Fresh back from injury and on for the last half hour or so, the Canary Islander has lost none of his magic in his time out through injury. Every time he touched the ball it was met with a raucous cheer from the home supporters.

On a day when the build-up to the game had been all about celebrating the Year of the Horse, the post-game was all about celebrating the fact that Barça are back in business... And back in first place in La Liga!

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