The World Today
Hansi Flick's team visits Levante in search of their second victory.
BARCELONA, 22 (EUROPA PRESS)
FC Barcelona will visit Levante UD this Saturday (9:30 p.m.) at the Ciutat de València, which will once again host a top-flight match three years later, on the second matchday of the EA Sports LaLiga. The Blaugrana are heading into a game with a warning after having lost at the Valencian stadium on several occasions in recent years.
In their last six visits to the Granota stadium, Barça have only managed to win twice. In the most recent clash, three years ago, the Catalan club won 3-2 in stoppage time thanks to a goal from Dutch striker Luuk de Jong. However, much has changed for Barça since then, with the emergence of many new players and the replacement of Xavi Hernández for Hansi Flick on the bench.
The German coach was not entirely satisfied after the 3-0 victory against RCD Mallorca on the first matchday, stating that he wanted to see "a different attitude" from his players, who significantly lowered their intensity level after sealing the match in the first half, after the 2-0 draw and the two expulsions suffered by the vermillion team.
That's why he hopes to see a better version of Barça at the Ciutat de València, where they will face a team that lost their first league match against Deportivo Alavés (2-1) after a goal from Argentine defender Nahuel Tenaglia in stoppage time. The team managed by Julián Calero came away empty-handed from their visit to Vitoria, although they put up a good performance in their return to the First Division.
Now, the Granota team will try to start building strength at home, where they haven't lost since February, when they were defeated (0-1) by Racing de Ferrol. For this home opener, the Madrid coach will be without Kevin Arriaga and Goduine Koyalipou, although he will have Jon Ander Olasagasti, and the doubt is Iker Losada, who is still unregistered.
Flick is also waiting for registrations. In his case, he doesn't know if he'll be able to call up Wojciech Szczesny, Roony Bardghji, and Gerard Martín, the latter being the most likely to travel to Valencia, although Oriol Romeu's departure must first be confirmed.
Flick will be able to count on Robert Lewandowski, who has recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered in his left thigh. The Polish striker, who turned 37 this Thursday, could play his first minutes of the season after missing the first La Liga match against Mallorca and also the Joan Gamper Trophy against Como 1907.
However, he is not expected to start, with Ferran Torres the clear favorite to fill the striker position after scoring against Mallorca. The one who could be included in the starting lineup is Dani Olmo, who already saw minutes in the first leg of the season and who would replace Fermín López.
For Levante, few changes are expected from the starting eleven against Alavés, with Calero lining up a five-man defense to try to stop two of the best players in the world, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.
A duel between the only two Blaugrana teams in the competition, who have completely different goals but will each try to secure all three points. Barça will look to remain top of the table for another matchday, while Levante hopes to get off to the best possible start in front of their home fans on their return to the First Division.
TECHNICAL SHEET.
–POSSIBLE LINEUPS:
LEVANTE UD: Cuñat Campos; Toljan, Elgezabal, De la Fuente, Jorge Cabello, Manu Sánchez; Lozano, Oriol Rey, Pablo Martínez; Iván Romero and Brugui.
FC BARCELONA: Joan Garcia; Koundé, Cubarsí, Araujo, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha; and Ferran Torres.
–REFEREE: Hernández Hernández (C.Las Palmas).
–STADIUM: Ciutat de València.
–TIME: 9:30 PM/Movistar LaLiga.
