Barcelona narrowly avoided a shock result against newly promoted Levante, clinching a dramatic 3-2 win thanks to a stoppage-time own goal that spared the La Liga champions from an early-season stumble.

Levante stunned Barça with a goal just 15 minutes into the match and doubled their lead before halftime via a penalty, awarded after Alejandro Balde was penalized for a handball. The underdogs had multiple chances to extend their lead, dominating the first half despite Barcelona's superior possession.

However, the momentum shifted in the second half with the introduction of Gavi and Dani Olmo, who added intensity to Barcelona's midfield. Pedri quickly pulled one back in the 49th minute, followed by Fermin Lopez’s equalizer just three minutes later, making it 2-2.

Both sides threatened to score again in an open second half, but in added time, a cross from Lamine Yamal took an unfortunate deflection off a Levante defender’s head, resulting in an own goal that sealed the comeback victory for the defending champions.

The win keeps Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table, though the performance raises questions about their defensive vulnerabilities and slow starts.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid continue to struggle despite a massive summer investment. After losing 2-1 to Espanyol in their opening match, they were held to a 1-1 draw by Elche, leaving them with just one point from two games. Diego Simeone's side, who spent over $225 million on new signings, currently sit in 13th place.