La Liga Champions Barcelona have started their title defence with two wins, to lead the early stages of the 2025/26 race, but they were pushed all the way by new boys Levante in a five goal thriller at the Ciutat de Valencia.
It was a ding dong battle between the Segunda Division champions and Hansi Flick’s top dogs and the Blaugrana eventually came out on top to make it a perfect start to their title defence. In other La Liga 2025 news Atletico Madrid, the team that this SBOTOP writer has been bigging up, has played two games without a victory, while Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid are away to Real Oviedo in the late night kick-off on Sunday.
Barcelona’s visit to Levante gave the Catalans an opportunity to set the pace at the top of the Primera Division after they started their campaign with an impressive 3-0 win away to Real Mallorca last week. But they were made to work hard by Julian Calero’s newly promoted side who were looking for their first point after losing to Deportivo Alaves last week.
And, at 2-0 up at half time, the hosts must have thought they’d pick up at least a point, but Barcelona are one team which you can never write off. Goals from Ivan Romero and Jose Morales, who smacked home a penalty deep into first half stoppage time, gave Levante fans a very enjoyable half time.
But 2-0, early in the game, is always a precarious position to be in as the leaders know another goal will almost certainly put the game to bed, while the trailing side can take all the momentum if they can halve the deficit. And if the Blaugrana are the hunters then the goal which makes it 2-1 can shred the nerves of the prey.
Barcelona had 82 per cent possession but going into half time 2-0 down Flick made the call to hook summer recruit Marcus Rashford, along with Marc Casado, to bring on Gavi and Dani Olmo and those changes seemed to do the trick. Barca clearly had more penetration after the break and just three minutes in Lamine Yamal fed midfielder Pedri and he fired a stunner into the top right corner. Barcelona were up and running and on 52 minutes Ferran Torres took a pass from Raphinha and smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Flick’s men laid siege to the Levante goal, with 26 shots and ten on target, but the hosts held firm until injury time until the hapless Unai Elgezabal put through his own net.
Barcelona moved to the top of the Primera Division league table and the La Liga 2025 betting odds make them slightly odds on favourites to retain their title, but Levante, unlucky though they were, are pointless.
Atleti’s slow start
After opening their campaign with a shock 2-1 loss away to Espanyol, Diego Simeone’s Atletico has a chance to put things right when new boys Elche headed to Madrid. Eder Sarabia’s side finished second in the Segunda Division last season and they began this campaign back at the top table with a creditable 1-1 draw at home to Real Betis last week.
For the second time in succession Simeone’s team failed to win after going ahead and that is a real departure for Los Rojiblancos, former masters of the 1-0 win. Last week Julian Alvarez gave them a half time lead with a stunning goal only to see Espanyol score two last goals and, on Saturday, they were ahead again when Alexander Sorloth latched on to a pass from David Hancko and slotted the ball home. But they led for only seven minutes before Rafa Mir finished off a swift counter attack.
Atleti had 13 shots to six and six to two on target but Elche, who came from behind to snatch a point against Betis last week, held on for another deserved draw. With just a single point from their first two games Los Rojiblancos need to get going quickly and their next chance comes away to Alaves next week.
Elsewhere Real Betis picked up their first win of the new campaign with a hard fought 1-0 win over Alaves. After drawing 1-1 with Elche last week Los Verdiblancos did enough to pick up their first three points as Gio Lo Celso scored the only goal of the game. Betis moved up to fourth place and they have a tasty game at home to Athletic Bilbao next week.
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