Messi, Dembele Shine Against Levante

Ousmane Dembele scored twice as Barcelona beat Levante 3-0 to progress to the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey, advancing 4-2 on aggregate after last week’s surprise defeat in Valencia.

Dembele, twice assisted by Lionel Messi, moved Barca ahead in the tie with two fortuitous finishes in the first half. Messi added Barca’s third after the break as the Catalans continued their bid for a fifth successive Spanish cup success.

Ernesto Valverde could not have hoped for a more convincing performance from his players. They were 2-0 up at the break, but it could have been five or six. Barca had 16 shots in the first half — more than any other first half in all competitions since at least the 2013-2014 season, per Opta. The comeback win means the hunt for a Treble remains very much alive.

On an individual basis, there was another good showing from Dembele, while new signing Jeison Murillo already looks fairly settled in the back four.

Barca might be through to the last eight of the cup, but there’s a chance they might still be thrown out.

Levante will complain to the Royal Spanish Federation [RFEF] that the Catalans fielded an ineligible player in last week’s first leg. Barca B defender Juan “Chumi” Brandariz, they will say, should have been suspended for the match. He served a one-game ban due to an accumulation of five yellow cards for the B team in a league game three days later. Barca sources have said they have not breached any rules as it was a different competition. The RFEF will have the final say.

Ernesto Valverde showed how much the cup means to Barca by picking Messi from the start. However, he managed to get the balance right between regulars and not-so-regulars. Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez were all left on the bench, with Murillo, Arturo Vidal and Philippe Coutinho all getting their chances. Valverde struck the perfect balance.

Ousmane Dembele scored two goals, but there was a touch of fortune about both, with neither finish convincing. Goals aside, this was a mature performance. His decision-making has come on leaps and bounds this season. The ability to beat a man with trickery and pace always brings the supporters to their feet. Brilliant in the build-up to Messi’s goal as well.

Lionel Messi, denied by three brilliant Aitor Fernandez saves in the first half but still managed to set up both of Dembele’s goals. Finally added his name to the scoresheet with a smart finish after the break.