Barcelona are playing some of the most compelling football in Europe right now, and Sunday's 4-2 victory at Levante only deepened that impression. Hansi Flick's side have won all six of their competitive fixtures this season, scoring freely in every outing, and they sit clear at the top of LaLiga with 15 points from five games. Real Madrid trail them by three points in second.

The Levante win produced its own headline moment. Lamine Yamal scored his third consecutive brace in the league, matching a record set by Lionel Messi in the 21st century. The 19-year-old then made waves off the pitch by publicly declaring himself a Ballon d'Or contender, naming himself and Kylian Mbappe as the two best players in the world. He also admitted, with characteristic honesty, that he was not satisfied with his own performances at the World Cup despite winning the tournament with Spain.

Flick has been the architect of this momentum, and his man-management is drawing attention too. He confirmed that penalty-taking duties are decided by the players themselves rather than imposed by the coaching staff, a detail that speaks to the trust he places in his squad. Raphinha continues to thrive in his converted striker role, with Flick describing him as operating on another level entirely.

Barcelona host Racing Santander at Spotify Camp Nou on September 16, and nothing in their current form suggests that record will be under any serious threat.