Levante 2 Barcelona 1: Philippe Coutinho and Malcom fail to shine in Copa del Rey setback

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Tony Mogan10 January 2019

Levante shocked Barcelona with a thrilling performance to secure victory in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last 16 clash.

Philippe Coutinho was handed his first start in five games with Ousmane Dembele and Malcom starting alongside him in attack but but home side struck twice within the opening 20 minutes to take control of the contest.

The former Liverpool playmaker pulled one back from the penalty spot late on but Levante will go into the second leg of the tie with a deserved lead.

Barcelona found themselves a goal behind after just four minutes with Erick Cabaco rising to head home past Jasper Cilessen.

Getty Images

The home side doubled their lead soon after with Borja Mayoral, on loan from Real Madrid, spinning past Jeison Murillo to fire low into the far corner.

Murillo, signed on loan from Valencia given Barcelona’s injury woes at the back, was enduring a debut to forget, booked just before the half hour mark after being brilliantly nutmegged by the impressive Emmanuel Boateng.

Barcelona spurned their chances to get back into the game with Malcom denied by the goalkeeper after being freed one-on-one.

Ernesto Valverde resisted the temptation to call upon Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi with the second leg of the tie to follow at the Nou Camp next Thursday.

Arsenal target Denis Suarez was brought on however and won his side’s penalty with six minutes remaining after a superb individual run down the inside right channel.

Coutinho, underwhelming on what was his first start since December's Champions League draw with Tottenham, stepped up to convert from 12 yards but there was to be no late rally from the visitors.

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