Barca wins 3-0 before Coutinho arrival; Messi, Suarez score

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez scored first-half goals in a 3-0 win over Levante on Sunday, restoring Barcelona’s nine-point lead of the Spanish league while it awaits the arrival of Philippe Coutinho.

Messi marked his 400th appearance in La Liga by giving Barcelona the early lead and taking his all-time record in the competition to 365 goals.

Suarez doubled the advantage before halftime, before Messi set up Paulinho to round off the win in stoppage time.

Barcelona said on Saturday that the 25-year-old Coutinho will sign a contract for the rest of this season plus five more seasons. Barcelona did not reveal the cost of the deal for the 25-year-old Liverpool and Brazil playmaker but a person familiar with the details told The Associated Press that the transfer is worth €160 million. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment publicly about the deal, which would be a club record for Barcelona.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde praised the qualities of Coutinho, who will sign his contact and be officially presented at Camp Nou today.

“(Coutinho) is a player who I think can bring many things to the team,” Valverde said. “He scores goals and provides assists, and in attack he can help us a lot.”

Atletico Madrid remained in a distant second place after it had temporarily closed the gap by beating Getafe 2-0 on Saturday.

The win took Barcelona’s unbeaten streak to 27 straight matches dating back to its loss to Real Madrid in the curtain-raising Spanish Super Cup in August.

Ousmane Dembele started for Barcelona and played just more than an hour before being substituted in his second appearance since returning from a left-leg injury that sidelined him since mid-September. The 20-year-old France forward played the final minutes of Thursday’s 1-1 draw at Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey.

Until the deal for Coutinho, Dembele was the club’s most expensive signing for a transfer fee of €105 million that could rise to €147 million.

Levante, despite its modest squad, counter-attacked well and threatened through striker Emmanuel Boateng.

But Messi once again this season connected with left back Jordi Alba, who headed back his pass for the Argentina forward to use one touch to volley in off the far post in the 12th minute and record his league-leading 16th goal of the season.

After a jittery start when he lost possession twice, Dembele showed his speed by dribbling to the edge of the area where he unleashed a powerful strike that goalkeeper Oier Olazabal did well to parry.

Javier Mascherano started for Barcelona amid widespread speculation that he wants to leave in search of more playing time.

The defender helped to set up Barcelona’s second goal by lobbing a pass over Levante’s defence where Sergi Roberto used one touch to send it to Suarez in the 38th. The striker used his left leg to control the ball before sweeping home with his right for his 11th goal of the season and his sixth in a five-round scoring streak.

Barcelona goalkeeper MarcAndre ter Stegen made excellent saves early in the second half, getting one hand on a shot by Ivan “Ivi” Lopez before using his foot to deny American defender Shaq Moore.

Messi finished the match by dribbling to the endline before squaring a pass for Paulinho to tap in for his seventh goal of the season.

Barcelona reserve-team striker Jose Arnaiz debuted in the league as a late substitute. The 22-year-old has scored three times in the Copa del Rey this campaign. Leganes-Real Sociedad .................... 1-0 Barcelona-Levante ........................... 3-0 Ath Bilbao-Alaves ............................ 2-0 Villarreal-Dep. La Coruna ................ 1-1 Celta Vigo-Real Madrid ................... late

Standings

Barcelona At. Madrid Valencia Real Madrid Sevilla Villarreal Eibar At. Bilbao Leganes Betis Getafe Sociedad Girona Celta Vigo Espanyol Levante D. La Coruna Alaves Malaga Las Palmas P 18 18 18 16 18 18 18 18 17 18 18 18 18 17 17 18 18 18 17 18 W 15 11 11 9 9 8 8 6 7 7 6 6 6 6 5 3 4 5 3 3 D L F A Pts 3 0 48 7 48 6 1 27 8 39 4 3 38 18 37 4 3 30 14 31 2 7 23 27 29 4 6 25 21 28 3 7 24 30 27 6 6 20 19 24 3 7 13 14 24 3 8 30 34 24 5 7 22 18 23 5 7 31 30 23 5 7 22 28 23 3 8 30 25 21 5 7 14 21 20 9 6 15 25 18 4 10 20 35 16 0 13 13 27 15 2 12 13 31 11 2 13 14 40 11