Barça 2 Levante 3: The league title slips away

Barça 2 Levante 3: The league title slips away

The team from Valencia come back from 2-0 down and knock Andreu Plaza's team out of the league play offs

It was not to be for Barça as they have been beaten 3-2 by Levante in the first round of the league play offs. The do or die fixture saw Barça take a 2-0 lead thanks to Lozano and Daniel yet Diego Ríos' team pulled off a great comeback with goals from Pedro Toro and Cuzzolino before Cecilio grabbed the winner with just three seconds left on the clock. 

Lozano opens the scoring 

107 days after their last game Barça began well, creating danger in the early minutes with Adolfo going close. In the end it was Sergio Lozano who gave the blaugranes the lead with a powerful effort into the top corner. 

Towards the end of the half, Dyego could have made it 2-0 but the woodwork then keeper Pedro kept Barça at bay. 

In the second half the pace dipped a little and Levante began to feel their way back into the game. Cuzzolino came close to pulling one back with Adolfo clearing spectacularly off the line. Barça reacted by extending their lead with Daniel making it 2-0 with a good finish from the edge of the area. 

League title hopes go up in smoke

Nevertheless, two minutes after doubling their lead, Barça could only look on as Pedro Toro pulled one back for Levante from the spot. With two minutes to go things took a turn for the worse with Cuzzolino finding the net to make it 2-2. A draw would have seen the blaugranes through due to them finishing above Levante in the regular season but with just seconds remaining Cecilio's effort handed the Valencians the win and ended Barça's bid to retain their league title. 

MATCH STATS:

Barça, 2
Llevant, 3

Barça: Juanjo, Marcenio, Lozano, Aicardo, Ximbinha –starting five–, Roger, Boyis, Daniel, Dyego, Adolfo, Rivillos, Arthur, Dídac and Esquerdinha.

Levante: Raúl, Maxi Rescia, Rubi Lemos, Cuzzolino, Chano -starting five-, Chillo, Márquez, Gallo, Prieto, Sena, Santos, Caye, Toro and Pedro.

Goals: 1-0, Lozano (min 8); 2-0, Daniel (min 30); 2-1, Pedro Toro (min 32); 2-2, Cuzzolino (min 38); 2-3, Cecilio (min 40).

Força Barça
Força Barça

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