Barca three points clear, Valencia lose again

MADRID (Reuters) - Barcelona cruised to a 2-0 win at Levante and regained their three-point lead at the top of La Liga on Sunday while Gary Neville's Valencia lost again. Champions Barcelona, with Luis Suarez scoring his 36th goal of the season, equalled a club record 28 matches unbeaten set in the 2010/11 season under Pep Guardiola. They have won 23 and drawn five. Valencia, in contrast, lost 1-0 at Real Betis to extend their winless run to 12 matches and nine under Neville. Bottom team Levante might have snatched at least a deserved point with better finishing against Barca, in lackadaisical mood after their 7-0 demolition of Valencia in the King’s Cup on Wednesday. "We pressed them and caused them difficulties and danger but quality told in the end," winger Jose Luis Morales told reporters. "They have extraordinary players. We bet on trying to cause damage in the first half but Barca wear you out.” Levante central defender David Navarro gave Barca a fortunate lead in the 21st minute when he turned an Andres Iniesta cross meant for Lionel Messi into his own net. The visitors had to wait until the second minute of added time to make the result safe when Suarez finished off a fast counter-attack with his 20th Liga goal as Levante tried to snatch an equaliser and were caught off guard. Barcelona, with a game in hand, have 54 points to Atletico’s 51 after a 3-1 win over Eibar on Saturday. Real Madrid, third with 47, were away to Granada in the late kickoff. Barca might have been a goal up after two minutes when Messi had the ball in the net from Iniesta’s pass into the box but it was overruled for offside – a harsh decision as television replays showed. Levante had a chance when Morales raced down the left into the box to hit a low shot that came back off the far post with Claudio Bravo beaten. Striker Ruben Castro scored the only goal in Seville four minutes into the second half as Betis ended a nine-match winless run in the league dating back to a victory at Levante in November. Valencia finished the match with 10 men after left back Jose Luis Gaya was sent off for bringing down Belgian loan signing Charly Musonda in the 85th minute. Neville's team slipped to 13th in the standings, one place below Betis with both on 25 points. (Reporting by Rex Gowar, editing by Alan Baldwin)