Barcelona 1-0 Levante: 5 Hits and Flops

#2 Hit: Lionel Messi

Messi came off the bench and excelled against a resolute Levante effort

Messi came off the bench to turn matchwinner once again, as Barca were made to work for their title-clinching win on this occasion. Time and again the Argentinian maestro has proven their savour and does so often that it's become second nature to him and those who watch him expect nothing less.

Although he was clearly being rested with an eye on Premier League leaders Liverpool coming to town on Wednesday, Ernesto Valverde was aware that it wouldn't be right without him - not least with the game finely poised at 0-0.

He came on at the start of the second-half and broke the deadlock with a delicate finish, which he typically made look easier than it was: caressing a low shot into the bottom corner after a goalmouth scramble almost went unrewarded before the ball fell to his path.

With three key passes and completed dribbles to accompany the all-important winner off the bench, what more can you ask for? If Jurgen Klopp's men harbour hopes of making their second successive Champions League Final next month, they must do their homework and silence Messi over two legs. Easier said than done!