Barcelona rode some first half luck before stepping on the gas to demolish Levante at Ciutat de València. Led by the majestic Lionel Messi who scored a hat-trick while also being an creative beast, Barcelona beat former La Masia graduate Oier Olazabal five times, as Luis Suarez and Gerard Pique also scored.
The late announcement that Nelson Semedo would miss the match with a knee problem meant changes in the lineup were necessary. Ernesto Valverde fielded three center-backs – Pique, Clement Lenglet and Thomas Vermaelen – with Jordi Alba playing on the left side of the midfield.