Madrid: Barcelona overcame a missed penalty from Lionel Messi to return to the top of La Liga with a 5-0 win away to 10-man Levante on yesterday. Neymar opened the scoring with a simple finish from Messi-s through ball before the Argentine star missed from the spot for the 12th time in his career after Loukas Vyntra had seen red for tripping him inside the area.


Barcelona-s Brazilian forward Neymar da Silva Santos Junior R celebrates his goal with Barcelona-s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi during the Spanish league football match Levante UD vs FC Barcelona at the Ciutat de Valencia stadium in Valencia. Pic/AFP 

However, it mattered little as Ivan Rakitic-s fierce strike made it 2-0 before half-time and goals from Sandro Ramirez, Pedro Rodriguez and Messi rounded off the scoring after the break to make it four wins in four La Liga games without conceding a goal for Barca. Luis Enrique recalled many of his rested stars for Wednesday-s 1-0 win over APOEL Nicosia in the Champions League as he made eight changes in all with only Messi, Neymar and Dani Alves retaining their places in the side.