Barcelona vs Levante match preview and predictions for Sunday’s LaLiga match. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as the Catalans aim to get back to winning ways.
- DATE: Sunday 13th December 2020
- KICK-OFF: 21:00 (local time)
- VENUE: Camp Nou
- COMPETITION: LaLiga
Barcelona vs Levante Preview
Barcelona return to Camp Nou on Sunday, in dire need of a positive result at the end of what has been a very difficult week. They are 12 points off the top heading into the weekend, a number which will most likely have increased by kick-off. No side has ever come back from such a deficit to win the Spanish top flight and there’s little about this Barca side that suggests they are going to buck the trend.
A home match against Levante should on paper provide some respite from their struggles. However a victory would only really paper over the cracks following a shock defeat at Cadiz followed by a 3-0 home loss to Juventus in the Champions League. Even a two goal defeat would have been enough to ensure Ronald Koeman’s side still topped the group but a very difficult last 16 tie is now virtually guaranteed.
If there are positives for Barcelona heading into this, they can at least look back on their last two home league games where they scored a combined total of 9 goals. However both Cadiz and Juve look to have shown teams just how to play against this Barcelona side and in theory Levante are a side quite well equipped to mirror the approach of the Andalusians last weekend.
They invariably break well with the pace of Jose Luis Morales often their biggest threat in the final third. However Paco Lopez has something of a selection dilemma here. Morales was dropped last weekend, which is quite a rare occurrence, and Levante responded with their most convincing display of the season, beating Getafe 3-0 with young summer signings Dani Gomez and Jorge de Frutos on target.
As former Real Madrid players, both will relish the chance to try and rub further salt in the wounds of Barcelona here. Despite their lowly position, Levante are actually unbeaten in 6 games heading into this match with five straight 1-1 draws proceeding that victory last weekend.
Check out our match previews for every game in LaLiga this weekend here!
Head to Head
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 4 Barcelona Wins, 2 Levante Wins.
- Barcelona have won all of their last 15 home games against Levante.
- That’s despite having suffered 3 defeats since May 2018 when the sides have met in Valencia.
- There have been 3 or more goals in 5 of the last 6 meetings.
Team News
Ousmane Dembélé is a doubt for Barcelona who may give injury-plagued Samuel Umtiti a rare start at centre-back.
José Campaña and Enis Bardhi remain sidelined for Levante but they coped well in their absence last weekend.
Predicted Barcelona Starting Lineup:
Ter Stegen – Alba, Umtiti, Lenglet, Dest – De Jong, Busquets – Coutinho, Messi, Pedri – Griezmann (4-2-3-1)
Predicted Levante Starting Lineup:
Fernandez – Clerc, Postigo, Vezo, Coke – Rochina, Vukcevic, Melero, De Frutos – Marti, Gomez (4-4-2)
Barcelona vs Levante Predictions
Score Prediction: Barcelona 3-1 Levante
Barcelona continue to serve up evidence of just how fragile a team they have become. Were this match being played at the Ciutat de Valencia, you’d have given Levante every chance of causing an upset but it’s hard to see them going to Camp Nou and leaving with a result.
LaLiga Betting Tips (18+)
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