Flick’s machine is still creaking, but somehow it keeps moving

It wasn’t a good day for a title contender—Real Madrid were enjoying themselves when city rivals Atletico dropped points at the Metropolitano against Elche. It looked like Los Blancos would be rubbing their hands again after Barcelona’s match too, but the defending champions have nine lives!

It’s never over until the final whistle. Valencia and Madrid celebrated too early. Barca were cornered, on the ropes, waiting for Levante’s knockout punch—but it never came. The underdog had victory in its grasp, only to let it slip away.

Barcelona rose from the dead, snatching a 2–3 (2–0) comeback win in stoppage time. Things aren’t running smoothly—Hansi Flick’s machine still creaks in places, just like it did early last season. And we all know how that story ended...

Even with ups and downs in their play at the start of this campaign, Barcelona are collecting points. They win. This one could easily have gone Levante’s way. The hosts led by two goals and squandered it all—by halftime plus injury time. The turning point? Pedri’s thunderbolt early in the second half. A rocket that reignited Barca’s fight.

The champions launched a blitz, scoring twice in four minutes. Ferran Torres pounced inside the box after a corner, and suddenly the deficit was erased. In stoppage time, he and Lamine Yamal orchestrated the decisive blow.

With the board showing seven minutes of added time, Barca wasted no time. Yamal whipped a cross from the right, Ferran Torres pressured Unai Elgezabal, and the ball ended up in the back of the net—an own goal sealing the comeback. Relief swept through the Catalans: three points secured. From despair to triumph in Valencia.

Barcelona had endured a nightmare first half—everything that could go wrong, did. A swift counter saw Ivan Romero twist Pau Cubarsi inside out, before a stoppage-time penalty deepened the wound. That handball by Alejandro Balde will be debated, just as decisions were in the Mallorca match. Was it deliberate? Could he have moved his arm?

Referee Alejandro Hernandez checked the monitor, pointed to the spot, and Jose Morales buried it. Levante had the dream scenario within reach—but left empty-handed. No win, no consolation point. Just minutes away, and it all slipped through their fingers. Some of their players will surely be replaying it in their minds all night long.

LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 2

Friday

Betis - Alaves 1-0 (1-0)

/Lo Celso 16/

Saturday

Mallorca - Celta 1-1 (0-1)

/Morey Bauza 88 - Rueda 38/

Atletico Madrid - Elche 1-1 (1-1)

/Sorloth 8 - Mir 15/

Levante - Barcelona 2-3 (2-2)

/Romero 15, Luis Morales 45+7 pen - Pedri 49, Ferran Torres 52, Elguezabal 90+1 (og)/

Sunday

18.00: (2.50) Osasuna (3.15) Valencia (3.20)

20.30: (1.90) Sociedad (3.50) Espanyol (4.60)

20.30: (1.58) Villareal (4.45) Girona (5.80)

22.30: (10.0) Oviedo (5.00) Real Madrid (1.33)

Monday

20.30: (1.75) Athletic Bilbao (3.60) Rayo Vallecano (5.60)

22.30: (2.30) Sevilla (3.10) Getafe (3.40)

***odds are subject to change***