La Liga Roundup: Lionel Messi scores as Barcelona struggles to beat Levante at the Camp Nou

Lionel Messi scored the lone goal as Barcelona who have struggled in the La Liga this season returned to winning ways with a victory over Levante.

Martin Braithwaite, Clement Lenglet, Jordi Alba, and Antoine Griezmann were all denied by Levante goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez who was in inspired form.

But when Messi struck from an angle after Frenkie de Jong’s assist, there was little Fernandez could do.

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Levante had their best chance of the game when Jorge de Frutos was on target but was denied while Marc-Andre ter Stegen also denied substitute Son right at the end.

Barca’s fifth league win lifts them two places up the La Liga table to eighth before Wednesday’s home match with leaders Real Sociedad.

After a bad week for Ronald Koeman’s side, Messi’s finish was greeted with relief by his team-mates.

They had endured a surprise defeat at Cadiz last weekend and another 3-0 home setback to Juventus in the Champions League.

That defeat to Juve leaves Barcelona to finish in second place and will be unseeded when the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League is made on Monday.

Messi struck for the eighth time this season, to leave Levante 18th in the table, two points from safety.