Barcelona continued their imperious form at the Camp Nou this season, hitting Levante for five goals in the latest manita under Pep Guardiola.

After suffering a shock defeat to Getafe last weekend, the champions responded the only way they know how, with goals.

With back-to-back routes of Rayo Vallecano and Levante, make no mistake about it; this team is ready to fight to retain their crown.

Levante arrived at the Camp Nou offering a final litmus test, a dress rehearsal to next weekend’s big show. In a clash between top of the table title contenders, Barcelona ran out in emphatic fashion, silencing their critics with an aggressive display of attacking football.

In a statement game, they delivered a strong message: They are still the most feared team in all of Europe.

This match got out of control from the beginning, with Fabregas opening the count in just the fourth minute of play. Guardiola’s decision to play a 3-4-3 saw the ex-Arsenal captain pushed forward as a dual false nine, alongside Leo Messi.

The Argentine started the action, feeding Iniesta on the left, with the midfielder sending a mesmerizing, no-look, first-touch, back-heel pass to the feet of Fabregas. The defense was left asunder, as Cesc turned to goal and drilled a clinical finish past Gustavo Munua at the near-post.

Messi nearly made it two after whipping in a dangerous free kick at the far-post, but Munua did well to parry away the initial strike. The rebound fell to an unmarked Carles Puyol, but the defender was unable to find his footing and fire off a quality strike from seven yards out.

Fabregas would make it two with just 33 minutes gone, rising high with malicious intent to meet Xavi’s celestial free-kick and steer it into the back of the net. The glancing header secured a brace for Cesc, giving the midfielder seven goals in La Liga this season, second only to Leo Messi.

His emergence as a legitimate goal scoring threat makes him a likely candidate for one of the forward positions in Saturday’s clasico, allotting Pep and extra midfielder for possession, without making any concessions in attack.

Puyol would stumble to the sideline with just 36 minutes gone after suffering a collision of heads with Levante striker, Kone. Reports indicate no concussion-like symptoms for the captain, just a bit of dizziness, causing the 33-year old captain to take an early exit out of precaution.

Barca continued to dominate possession, creating chances at will against a hapless Levante defense. They would find themselves up three, with 20-year old Isaac Cuenca killing off the game eight minutes before the half.

Leo Messi was again at the heart of things, drawing in four defenders before threading a pass to Andres Iniesta, with the Manchego one-timing the ball to Cuenca, who burst into the box and slid a low, curling effort rolling past Munua and into the back of the net.

With Pedro’s recession this season, Cuenca continues to make the most of his chances, proving his worth with another stellar performance.

Victor Valdes would deny Levante any fleeting chance at a comeback with a fine double save just before the half. After being put through on goal, Kone was wasteful, firing a low strike, dead center into the body of Valdes. Xavi Torres collected the rebound inside the area before being stripped by a Dani Alves slide-tackle, allowing Valdes to smother the lose ball before Torres could get off another strike.

Valdes would be called upon again in the 53rd minute, repelling a well-struck header from Del Horno with a diving one-handed save to preserve the clean sheet.

If you don’t take your chances, Barcelona will make you pay. And Levante would rue the missed opportunities when, two minutes later, Leo Messi left the visitors bereft of hope by making it a four-goal affair.

Dani Alves’ storming run on the right flank drew in the defense, allowing his slide-rule pass to find Messi in an on-side position, as the reigning Balon D’Or skipped into the area and sent a cool finish past Munua from a tight angle, giving him his 27th goal of the season in all competitions.

Alexis Sanchez completed the manita with a sumptuous goal in the 60th minute. A counter-attack led by Leo Messi saw Barcelona reach the Levante box with a three on two advantage, allowing Leo to pick out Alexis at the far-post. The Chilean cutback onto his right foot and sent a curling effort off the underside of the crossbar and in for his fourth goal of the season.

Alexis saw a strong header saved by Munua minutes later, while Messi fluffed a wide-open volley from two yards out in the 78th minute.

Iniesta would fall victim to one of the worst refereeing decisions of the 2011-2012 La Liga season, as his clear goal in the 88th minute was horribly chalked off for an inexplicable offsides call. Indeed, the Spaniard was well onside when Messi’s original pass was played backwards by the Levante defense, only to see it kicked backwards again by another defender, allowing Iniesta to collect the lose ball and slot home from eight yards out.

With offsides being non-existent by law on a ball played backwards by the defense (let alone two defenders) the fans were left scratching their heads as to why.

In the end it wouldn’t matter, as the Catalans held on to preserve another hallmark 5-0 drubbing.

Busquets’ half-time substitution ensured the midfielder did not collect a fifth yellow and will arrive in perfect conditions for the clasico.

Barcelona have now out-scored opponents by a record 39-0 at home in La Liga this season, playing some of the most ruthless and attractive football ever displayed.

At their best, Barcelona are aggression in its most elegant form. And with the goals piling up and the clasico on the horizon, things appear to be coming together at just the right time for the Catalans.

Get your popcorn ready. Saturday promises to be one hell of a show.

Article written by Barcaloco contributor Anson Woodring.  Follow Anson on Twitter at @ansonwoodring.

Full match highlights:

Barcelona VS Levante 5-0 Highlights HD 03.12.2011 by iNfRaS0NiC