Sergio Busquets: Barcelona suffered for sleeping in first 20 minutes
The midfielder's hopeful ahead of next week's second leg against Levante
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Sergio Busquets lamented Barcelona's slow start as they were beaten 2-1 by Levante in the cup on Thursday.
Levante led 2-0 after just 20 minutes but Barça got back into the tie ahead of next week's second leg at Camp Nou via a late Philippe Coutinho penalty.
"The tie is open after Coutinho's goal," Busquets said. "The team deserved that, above all for the second half. In the first half, we came out asleep and [Levante] took advantage of that, putting us on the ropes with two goals.
"They dropped in intensity after that, they had Morales' chance, but I think in general we were better and deserved, at very least, the goal. In the end, we had chances, but we were penalised by the first half, above all the opening 18 minutes."
Busquets was also asked about Coutinho, who has been on the bench in Barça's last four league games.
He said: "Everyone wants to play. There's tough competition here. There are a lot of midfielders and only three positions. It's difficult to come into the side, too, when you've not been playing and you have less confidence and rhythm.
"But I believe that Philippe is going to help us in what's left of the season."
