Ansu Fati scores on Barcelona return after 322 days out

FT Desk
FT Desk
  • Updated: 26 Sept 2021 17:34 BST
  • 3 min read
Will Barcelona sign a replacement for Ansu Fati in January?
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Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati scored on his long-awaited comeback from injury during the 3-0 home win over Levante on Sunday.

Ansu entered the pitch for Luuk de Jong on 81 minutes and completed a fairytale comeback by finding the back of the net.

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The last match that Ansu Fati had played before Sunday’s match at Camp Nou was on November 5 2020 against Real Betis, at which point he had six goals and five assists from 14 matches for club and country that term.

The teenager had started the 2020/21 season in scintillating form, until he suffered a devastating torn meniscus in his left knee.

The 18-year-old was initially expected to miss four months, but his recovery kept getting extended due to multiple surgeries.

Fairytale comeback for Ansu Fati

Ansu Fati hugged the club doctor before coming on, while he also sported the number 10 shirt after it was vacated by a certain Lionel Messi this summer.

It was a crucial win for Barcelona, who had gone three games without a victory prior to Sunday.

Manager Ronald Koeman was on the verge of the sack and was expected by some papers to be given his marching orders had Barca not won against Levante.

Memphis Depay opened the scoring for Barcelona from the penalty spot before Luuk de Jong doubled the advantage soon after in what was his first strike since arriving on loan this summer from Sevilla.

The result eases the pressure on Koeman, for now.

Read more about: La Liga, Barcelona, Levante

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