Lionel Messi scored his sixth goal in five matches as he put Barcelona ahead in their La Liga clash away at Levante, reaching a new milestone in the process, but the hosts fought back in the second half to stun the Catalan giants.
Bidding for an eighth win in a row, captain Messi stepped up to give Barca the lead from the penalty spot in the 38th minute, after Nelson Semedo was fouled by Jorge Miramon.
Messi sent the spot-kick high to the right of the net, with stats-lovers noting that the strike was the Argentine’s 500th for Barcelona with his fabled left foot.
Messi has scored the vast majority of his goals – 82.1 percent – of his 609 goals for Barcelona with his left peg, and continued his scoring streak since returning from the calf injury that ruled him out at the start of the season.
Ernesto Valverde’s men were looking to move four points clear at the top of the La Liga table, but were stunned when Levante fired in three goals in eight second-half minutes as Jose Campana equalized on the hour mark, followed by strikes from Borja Majoral and Nemanja Radoja.
Real Madrid can now overtake their bitter rivals at the top of La Liga if they beat Real Betis at the Bernabeu later on Saturday. Levante moved up to eighth with their win over Barca.