After what was a slow, uneventful start, Barca were able to pull together and win against a relegation bound Levente side. Barca were guilty of wasting numerous clear chances, and were lucky to take all three points thanks to an Eto'o strike just befor the hour mark. Messi sent a good ball into the area, it bounced off Ronaldinho and fell to Xavi, whose shot was saved by an onrushing Molina. Samuel Eto'o was at hand to strike with the keeper stranded.

Eto'o then pounced on a Molina save off a Ronaldinho shot and slotted the ball into the back of the net, only to have the goal disallowed for offside. Ronnie set up Eto'o with a fantastic through ball, but Samuel's chip over Molina ended wide. Chances were coming thick and fast, and it looked like Barca were going to overrun their visitors.

Early in the second half, Van Bronckhorst was booed for passing the ball back to Valdes under pressure, with the home fans clearly wanting Barcelona to wrap it up. Levante used it to grow into the game, as Rubiales beat Zambrotta and fired a stinging low effort from the left, but Valdes saved and then held on to it.

Barca were denied a clear penalty when Eto'o after finding himself in space, placed a perfect cross for Ronaldinho, but the Brazilian was pulled back by Alexis. The referee turned a blind eye, and Ronaldinho was very animated in his feeling of pure disgust at this decision.

Alvaro brought down Messi as he went on a quick break, and the defender got himself a long overdue booking. The game went on and on with Barca creating chance after chance, and Levante being unconvincing in their search for an equalizer. Lionel Messi summed up the evening in the 90th minute, hitting the crossbar when in lots of space just six yards out, after being set up by Eto'o.

Levante, to the relief of the Nou Camp faithful, wasted a late chance, Kapo missing from close range in the 92nd minute, a chance that could have had Madrid and Sevilla going wild.

Lionel Messi was hacked down by Alexis in the dying second, and received a long overdue booking as Barcelona reclaimed their lead in the title race. Barca fans worldwide will be hoping that the finishing improves. Goals win games, not chances.