Ghana striker Emmanuel Okyere Boateng scored a hat-trick against Barcelona who saw their unbeaten LaLiga run ended by a 5-4 defeat to Levante in their penultimate game of the season.
With his treble on Sunday, the 21-year-old, who has been invited to the Black Stars camp next week for international friendlies against Japan and Iceland, made it a total of six goals in the LaLiga – four coming against big boys Real Madrid and Barcelona in his debut season.
Levante took a shock early lead against the double winners when Boateng pounced from close range in the ninth minute.
Boateng strolled his way through a sleeping Barca defence and rounded goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to double Levante’s lead in the 31st although Coutinho’s strike from distance pulled one back before the break.
Levante came out with renewed energy in the second half and immediately stretched their lead with a thumping shot from outside the area from Bardhi, who struck again after Boateng had completed his treble to further rattle Valverde’s side.
The fifth goal woke up Barca, however, and the champions suddenly came out fighting with three goals in the space of 12 minutes.
But Levante held on to record a famous 5-4 victory.
NB: Additional text from Reuters
