Argentine midfielder Lionel Messi's heroics charged Barcelona to a 5-0 victory against Levante, taking the team to top of the La Liga table.
Messi set up Neymar to give the visitors the lead before missing a first-half penalty after he was fouled by Loukas Vyntra, who was sent off. Barcelona doubled their lead through Ivan Rakitic, before Messi's pass allowed Sandro Ramirez to make it 3-0.
Pedro made it 4-0 and Messi added a fifth in the 75th minute of the match, The BBC reported.
Messi has been directly involved in more goals than any other player in La Liga this season, scoring three goals and assisting four.
Sevilla had earlier leapfrogged Barca after a 3-1 win at Cordoba but the 22-time champions of Spain went two points clear at the summit after their biggest win since Enrique took charge in the summer, the report said.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
