La Liga: Levante Vs FC Barcelona – Match preview

Strong away performances have been the hallmark of Barcelona’s recent success, with three straight La Liga away wins seeing them score 2 goals.

Levante

Despite failing to win until the 20th game, Levante are still harbouring hopes of avoiding a first La Liga relegation since 2015/16. The momentum from their previous seven league games is driving those survival hopes – and of avenging September’s 3-0 loss against Barcelona in the reverse H2H – having landed exactly half of their seasonal points across those games. In addition to targeting their first consecutive La Liga wins since July 2020, Levante are also unbeaten in three home matches, including a 2-0 win over UEFA Champions League quarter-finalists Villarreal. A win might actually not be such a fanciful idea considering they own a fine record of just one loss at home to Barcelona since returning to the top-flight in 2017 – a home record over that period that even the great Real Madrid would love to own against their El Clasico foes!

FC Barcelona

With Barcelona’s UEFA Europa League progress still in the balance after a 1-1 draw in Frankfurt, and the reverse fixture scheduled next week, manager Xavi Hernandez could be tested on his domestic priorities despite having a game in hand. They can’t afford a loss here, however, as it could potentially drag them down to fourth, despite their unbeaten 14-game La Liga run giving Barca control of their top-four destiny. Strong away performances have been the hallmark of Barcelona’s recent success, with three straight La Liga away wins seeing them score 2 goals. It could be a tough defensive test here though, as Barcelona have failed to keep a clean sheet in ten of their last 13 away La Liga games, as well as conceding 13 goals at Levante across their last five visits!

Roger Marti has contributed to two of Levante’s last three La Liga goals, while Ousmane Dembele has been a Catalan catalyst for Barcelona in their last six La Liga games, contributing nearly half of their goals during the sequence. A penalty has been awarded in five of Levante’s last ten La Liga home H2Hs.