Barcelona lose unbeaten run at Levante while Messi stays home

REUTERS: Barcelona’s hopes of completing an unbeaten La Liga season ended in thrilling fashion on Sunday as the champions suffered a shock 5-4 defeat at Levante in their 37th and penultimate game of the campaign after resting talisman Lionel Messi.

Levante raced into a remarkable 5-1 lead against the double winners after 56 minutes with a hat-trick from Ghanaian striker Emmanuel Boateng and two goals from Macedonian international Enis Bardhi.

Yet Philippe Coutinho also completed a hat-trick and Luis Suarez scored from the penalty spot as Barca fought back to set up a tense finale.

Yet, ultimately, despite coming close to a late equaliser, they failed in their bid to become the first team since Real Madrid in 1931-32, and the first since the league was expanded from 10 teams, to complete a league campaign without losing.

The shock of the season saw Barca suffer their first league loss since going down 2-0 to Malaga on April 8, 2017, ending an incredible, record-breaking sequence that had lasted 43 games.

It was the first time Barca had conceded five goals in a Liga game since they were beaten 5-1 at Malaga in December 2003.

The defeat also put the spotlight on Valverde’s decision to rest his serial match-winner Messi — not for the first time this season, but still a rare occurrence — so close to achieving the unbeaten domestic campaign.

The defeat left the champions on 90 points after 37 games, 12 more than second-placed Atletico Madrid, while Levante are 15th on 46.