Barcelona ease to victory over Levente on Dembele's return (Details, pics)

Goals from Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Paulinho were enough to help Barcelona to a 3-0 victory over Levante at the Camp Nou on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts went into the game looking to keep their title charge on track after the lengthy winter break and managed to do just that as they swept their opponents aside.

Pre-match, all the talk was about the returning Ousmane Dembele, but the visitors threatened to play the role of party poppers early on as they came racing out of the blocks. Emmanuel Boateng looked a handful early doors, running the channels and forcing Javier Mascherano into a couple of early interventions.

However, after the early threat subsided, Barca took control. The hosts were unlucky not to take the lead when Lionel Messi’s free kick from the left managed to evade everyone, despite needing just the faintest of touches, but they weren’t made to wait long for a breakthrough as Messi struck with just 12 minutes gone.

The Argentine exchanged passes with Jordi Alba before firing home on the volley from the edge of the box.

Cheick Doukoure wasted a good chance for the visitors when his scuffed an effort well wide from the edge of the box after excellent work from Boateng down the right. Luis Suarez had a chance to double the lead immediately from the restart, only to be denied by Oier in the Levante goal.

Forays forward form the visitors were becoming few and far between as Barca dominated possession for long periods. Dembele saw a low effort from range well saved, with Suarez blazing the rebound over, before Messi fizzed a free kick narrowly wide.

Barca did get the all-important second goal before half time though, as Suarez rifled into the top corner after meeting Sergi Roberto’s first-time centre.

Messi and Ivan Rakitic tried their luck before the whistle went for the break but the hosts were made to do with a two-goal lead at the half.

The match ended up with three goals to thanks to Paulinho second half strike.