Barcelona vs Levante – News and Probable Lineups

Barcelona will be looking to get back to winning ways in Spain’s top division as they face struggling Levante at home on Sunday.

Hansi Flick’s team is currently in second place in the La Liga standings, trailing leaders Real Madrid by two points, while Levante sits in 19th place, seven points adrift of 17th-placed Rayo Vallecano.

Match overview

After being dethroned from the top of the La Liga table by Real Madrid, Barcelona could find themselves five points behind the leaders when this match kicks off, putting pressure on Flick’s side to rebound from two consecutive defeats.

The Catalans were heavily beaten 4-0 by Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, followed by a 2-1 loss to Girona in Spain’s top flight last time around.

Another defeat in succession seems unthinkable for Barcelona, and they will be relieved to return to their home ground for this match, particularly against a Levante team fighting against relegation.

Historically, Barcelona has faced Levante 46 times, winning 33 of those encounters, with only six losses, making it a strong expectation for them to secure a victory here.

Earlier this season, Flick’s team managed to secure a 3-2 win, and recent fixtures between these two sides have seen plenty of goals, with 19 scored in the last four matches.

Levante comes into this fixture following three consecutive defeats in Spain’s top division, including a narrow 1-0 loss to Villarreal on Wednesday evening.

This season has proven challenging for the Frogs, who hold a record of four wins, six draws, and 14 losses from 24 league games, leaving them with 18 points and positioned in 19th place, seven points behind 17th-placed Rayo Vallecano.

There’s still plenty of football to be played for Levante to escape the relegation zone, but their defensive struggles this season, having conceded 41 goals, the worst in the league, remain a significant concern.

Upcoming fixtures for Luis Castro’s team do include some matches that could be winnable, and a successful result against Barcelona could provide a much-needed lift.

However, facing a wounded Barcelona makes this encounter even more challenging for Levante, setting up what promises to be an intriguing match on Sunday.

Barcelona La Liga form:

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Barcelona form (all competitions):

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Levante La Liga form:

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Team News

Barcelona has received a boost ahead of Sunday’s La Liga clash, with Marcus Rashford and Pedri both back in training, and while both are expected to be included in the squad, neither is likely to start.

Gavi has also returned to group training following a knee injury that sidelined him for five months and is anticipated to be fit to play at some point in March, though Andreas Christensen (knee) will remain unavailable for the foreseeable future.

Changes are expected from the side that faced Girona previously, with Alejandro Balde set to return at left-back, and Robert Lewandowski likely to be selected as a central forward.

For Levante, Roger Brugue (knee) and Pablo Martinez (knee) are both ruled out.

Unai Elgezabal (knee) is doubtful, while Kervin Arriaga misses out again due to a suspension, meaning the visitors could be missing four players for this matchup.

Etta Eyong was on the bench for the second consecutive match against Villarreal, but the Cameroon international is likely to return to the starting XI for this game.

Barcelona probable starting XI:

J Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, And Garcia, Balde; Fermin, De Jong; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski

Levante probable starting XI:

Ryan; Toljan, De la Fuente, Moreno, Sanchez; Olasagasti, Raghouber; Tunde, Alvarez, Romero; Eyong

For Barcelona, this is a must-win match; it’s as straightforward as that. While Levante may find chances to score due to their attacking talents and Barcelona’s defensive frailties, it is expected that the home team should still be able to secure a vital three points.