Barcelona's impressive 70-game winning streak at home in Liga F has finally come to an end. The team was held to a 1-1 draw by Levante at the Estadi Johan Cruyff, breaking their remarkable run.
In their previous encounter last month during the Spanish Supercopa, Barcelona defeated Levante 7-0. With Salma Paralluelo giving the home team a first-half lead, it seemed like another dominant victory was on the cards. However, Levante had other plans.
After the break, Alba Redondo managed to equalize for Levante, securing a historic point for the third-placed team. Prior to this match, the last time Barcelona dropped points at home against an away team in the league was back on February 13, 2019, when Sporting de Huelva emerged victorious with a 3-2 win.
Since then, Barcelona had triumphed in every single home match they played in Liga F across four complete seasons: '19-'20, '20-'21, '21-'22, and '22-'23. This draw against Levante marks the first time Barcelona failed to secure a win at the Estadi Johan Cruyff in any competition.
It is worth noting that the defeat to Sporting de Huelva took place at the now-demolished Mini Estadi. Since moving to their new home in the summer of 2019, Barcelona had won all 79 matches before this draw with Levante in their 80th fixture at the stadium.
Before Wednesday's game, Barcelona had won all 16 matches in the league this season. Despite dropping two points in this draw, they still maintain a comfortable 10-point lead over Real Madrid, who sit in second place.
This loss also marks the first time Barcelona has been defeated in Liga F since May when Madrid CFF secured a 2-1 victory on the final day of the previous campaign. However, this defeat came long after Barcelona had already secured their fourth consecutive title.
Barcelona's success extends beyond domestic competitions. They also emerged victorious in the Champions League last season, clinching their second title. In a thrilling final against Wolfsburg, Barcelona managed to overcome a 2-0 halftime deficit and secure a 3-2 win.
Unfortunately, Barcelona's manager, Jonatan Giráldez, recently announced his departure from the club at the end of the season. He will be taking on the role of head coach at NWSL side Washington Spirit.
While the end of Barcelona's home winning streak in Liga F is certainly disappointing for the team and its fans, it is still an outstanding achievement. Maintaining an unbeaten home record for 70 consecutive matches is a feat that showcases Barcelona's dominance in domestic competition.
As they regroup and prepare for their upcoming matches, it will be interesting to see how Barcelona responds to this setback. The team has proven time and again that they have the talent and determination to bounce back stronger than ever.
