Barcelona secure La Liga title with three games to spare after victory over Levante at Camp Nou

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Ben Hayward27 April 2019

Barcelona have been crowned champions of Spain for the 26th time after beating Levante 1-0 at Camp Nou tonight.

Ernesto Valverde’s side needed a win to claim the title in front of their own fans after Atletico Madrid beat Valladolid 1-0 earlier in the day and they got it thanks to Lionel Messi, who came on as a second-half substitute to score the winner.

The victory sees the Catalans stay nine points clear of the Rojiblancos with three rounds of the competition remaining and their superior head-to-head record in the two league meetings between the teams this term means they cannot be caught.

It is a second successive La Liga title for Valverde, an eighth in 11 seasons for Barcelona and a 10th for Lionel Messi, which sees the Argentine attacker surpass nine-time winner Andres Iniesta to set yet another record at the Catalan club.

In Pictures | Barcelona vs Levante | 27/04/19

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Barca now turn their attentions to the Champions League, in which they will face Liverpool over two games in the semi-finals, starting with the first leg at Camp Nou on Wednesday night.

The Blaugrana are also on course for a possible treble as they meet Valencia in the final of the Copa del Rey on May 25th.

Philippe Coutinho was bright for Barcelona in a one-sided first half. The Brazilian hit the bar with a fierce free-kick and saw several more efforts saved by Levante goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez.

He had started alongside Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez as coach Ernesto Valverde kept one eye on Liverpool by starting with Messi on the bench.

But the Argentine came on at the start of the second half and produced the decisive moment as he so often does, turning in the box and firing past Aitor after 62 minutes to put the Catalans in front.

Some poor decision-making by the Barca forwards and a few more saves by Aitor prevented the Blaugrana from adding to their lead, but Levante had their chances to spoil the party late on.

Substitute Jose Luis Morales blasted over with only Marc-Andre ter Stegen to beat and an Enis Bardhi effort hit the post right at the end, bouncing back out into the grateful arms of the German goalkeeper.

The final whistle went soon afterwards and the fans were jubilant, as well as relieved, as the celebrations got under way.

27 April 2019

2 mins: Levante, in luminous green, with some slick play, but Nelson Semedo clears up on the edge of his box...

27 April 2019

The game is under way at Camp Nou!

27 April 2019

The Camp Nou is filling up, the players are out and the Barca anthem has just been blaring out. We will be under way shortly...

27 April 2019

Levante ended Barcelona's hopes of an unbeaten campaign last season

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde has lost just three league games at the Catalan club over two seasons and the first of those was a 5-4 defeat at Levante in 2017-18, when the Valencia-based side ended the champions' chances of finishing the campaign unbeaten.

This season, there have been just two losses - Betis (at home) and Leganes (away) - in another extremely impressive campaign for Barca.

27 April 2019

Barcelona haven't won La Liga at home since 2010!

Despite all their success in recent years, Barcelona have not won La Liga in front of their own fans at Camp Nou since 2010, when Pep Guardiola's side beat Valladolid to be crowned champions for a second season in a row.

Tonight, Ernesto Valverde has the opportunity to win his second league title with the Catalan club and asked on Friday if his players were focused, he said: "We have the chance to win it in front our fans. Nobody wants to miss out on that."

27 April 2019

Valverde keeps one eye on Liverpool

Lionel Messi has been named on the bench for Barcelona as the Catalans aim to tie up La Liga with a win against Levante tonight.

The Argentine attacker is among the substitutes as coach Ernesto Valverde looks ahead to Wednesday night’s Champions League semi-final first leg at home to Liverpool.

GettySergio Busquets is also left out of the league game at Camp Nou with the midfielder short of full fitness and struggling in recent weeks.

That means another start for Arturo Vidal, alongside Ivan Rakitic and Arthur, with Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez further forward.

Nelson Semedo starts at right-back ahead of Sergi Roberto, who is also on the bench.

Barca need a win over Levante to claim the title in front of their own fans, with three rounds of La Liga still to be played after this weekend.

27 April 2019

Full team news

Photo: Reuters 

Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba, Rakitic, Vidal, Arthur, Dembele, Suarez, Coutinho

Subs: Cillessen, Umtiti, Sergio Roberto, Busquets, Alena, Malcom, Messi

Levante XI: Fernandez, Coke, Vezo, Pier, Luna, Campana, Vukcevic, Jason, Rochina, Simon, Mayoral

Subs: Olazabal, Cabaco, Dwamena, Lopez, Morales, Bardhi, Marti

27 April 2019

Barcelona team to face Levante tonight: Ter Stegen, Semedo, Piqué, Lenglet, Alba, Vidal, Rakitic, Arthur, Dembelé, Suárez, Coutinho

27 April 2019

Messi rested

Lionel Messi won't start tonight - Ernesto Valverde clearly has one eye on the visit of Liverpool on Wednesday.

27 April 2019

Good evening and welcome to Standard Sport's LIVE coverage of Barcelona vs Levante.

Ernesto Valverde's side can clinch an eighth La Liga title in 11 years with victory tonight - the first of another treble, perhaps?

Stick around, all your team news and build-up is on the way. 

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