He only has 15 first-team players at his disposition, and Vidal doesn’t train with the team today. Surely this means that players like Puig and Collado could get included in the squad for tomorrow.
Barca’s coach Quique Setien knows he needs to improve his team’s away form
Just one win from their last three La Liga games is worrying form for title-chasing Barcelona, although they remain the division’s top scorers by some distance, netting an average of 2.38 goals per game. As such, nine of their 13 La Liga wins have been achieved despite a -1 handicap. At home, ‘Barça’ have won with a -2 handicap in seven of their nine La Liga victories, and are yet to lose here this league campaign. Unsurprisingly, the hosts have scored at least twice before half-time in 70 per cent of their La Liga home games, but have also conceded before the break-in 60 per cent.
Levante against Barcelona with the last three games lost
On a three-game losing streak in La Liga, Levante travel here as one of just two teams yet to draw on the road this league campaign. Four of their eight road defeats came ‘to nil,’ which is hardly surprising considering Levante have netted an average of just 1.0 goals per La Liga away game this term. While the visitors have held their own in the opening 45 minutes on the road, they frequently collapse after half-time. As such, they’ve conceded 71.43 per cent of their away league goals in the second half, while no team has conceded more away goals in the 15 minutes following half-time than Levante’s seven.
Will not play
From Barcelona: Suarez – Knee injury; Questionable: Dembele – Thigh injury, Neto – Ankle injury, Turan – Injury.
From Levante: Rober – Knee injury; Questionable: Bardhi – Thigh injury, Lopez – Knee injury.
Players to watch
Lionel Messi has scored in Barcelona’s last six La Liga home wins, netting 11 goals in total – he’s scored in three straight H2Hs.
Roger Martí has been Levante’s first goalscorer in all six league games he’s found the net this season.
Stat attack: Barcelona’s opposition has been shown at least four yellow cards in the last three La Liga games held here.
Levante has lost all six La Liga away games in which they have conceded first this season.
There’s been no draw in the last 13 competitive H2Hs – eight produced over 3.5 goals.