Kolkata: Barcelona defeated Levante 4-2 to record their fifth consecutive La Liga win and maintain their unbeaten start to the season, but had to defend their lead in the second half as Levante threatened to steal a point.
Barcelona made a lightning start as Xavi Espart opened the scoring in the fifth minute before Lamine Yamal added a second in the 19th after a flowing counterattack began by Raphinha on the left.
Levante applied pressure and created chances of their own and forced Barcelona into defensive action.
Barcelona took control again just after the break when Yamal scored his second of the game from a penalty in the 48th minute to put them two goals ahead and appear to be in command.
But Levante fought back. Iván Romero equalised in the 79th minute after a goalmouth scramble following a misplaced pass by Barcelona, before Roger Brugué struck in the 88th minute to inflict a frantic finale.
Barcelona responded in stoppage time as Karim Adeyemi tapped in a counterattack to restore their two-goal advantage and record a hard-fought win.
The victory means Barcelona remain on course for a perfect start to the season, while Levante can take heart from a fine fightback that denied them a point.
