Ousmane Dembele’s brace and a second-half goal from Lionel Messi ensured Barcelona beat Levante 3-0 at Camp Nou, as they comfortably overturned a first-leg deficit to progress to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.
Trailing 2-1 in the tie, Ernesto Valverde handed a start to Messi and he played a part in both of Dembele’s goals before making sure of the aggregate victory by finding the net himself just after the break.
However, Levante president Quico Catalan had already said his club will challenge Barcelona’s progression, with reports in Spain suggesting the LaLiga champions fielded an ineligible player in the previous meeting.
Defender Chumi featured in that game, even though he had been due to serve a suspension after picking up five bookings in the Segunda Division B, and Catalan told reporters prior to kick-off on Thursday that Levante would lodge an official complaint to the Royal Spanish Football Federation.