Sunday, 7 January 2018 16:15 Barcelona Time CAMP NOU Previous Meetings SLL 07-02-2016 FT Levante 0 : 2 Barcelona SLL 20-09-2015 FT Barcelona 4 : 1 Levante SLL 15-02-2015 FT Barcelona 5 : 0 Levante SLL 21-09-2014 FT Levante 0 : 5 Barcelona SCdR 29-01-2014 FT Barcelona 5 : 1 Levante SCdR 22-01-2014 FT Levante 1 : 4 Barcelona Squad List for the match Ter Stegen, Cillessen Semedo, Piqué, Mascherano, Vermaelen, Alba, Digne Rakitic, Denis Suárez, Iniesta, Paulinho, S. Roberto, André Gomes Suárez, Messi, Dembélé and Jose Arnaiz Suspended: Busquets Injured: Paco Alcácer, Umtiti or Arda Turan. Left Out: Rafinha, Deulofeu and Aleix Vidal VISCAELBARCA
Dembele will not start the game - at least that is what Valverde has suggested. And I think Valverde wants to be very careful with Dembele's minutes and reintegration into the squad, particularly given how well positioned the team is right now. Dembele and Coutinho if he joins can both help the squad and are not in direct competition.
Lineup prediction for Levante. General thoughts are that Dembele not ready to start, Coutinho not available, and both Umtiti and Paco still injured. Also won't play folks who are likely leaving (injury risk too great), so no Mascherano, no Deulofeu, no Rafinha. Based on that I think it is a 4-4-2 not 4-3-3. I hope that starting 4 mids as mids means we could start a RB instead of Roberto but not sure of that. Semedo just had a great game but I'm guessing that he starts on the bench, Vidal too. So here's the prediction: MAtS Roberto-PK-Verm-Alba Paulinho-Raki-Busi-Ini Messi-Suarez 3-0 Dembele subs on, as does Denis (or Gomes), then very late in the match we bring on Mascherano to huge applause from home fans who know that will be their last time to say goodbye and thanks to a Barca legend.
Suspended: Busquets 4 bookings: Suárez, Umtiti 3 bookings: Alba Upcoming Liga fixtures: J19 (A) Real Sociedad J20 (A) Betis J21 (H) Alavés
Mats Roberto masche verm alba Rakitic Paulinho Iniesta Dembele Messi Suarez This is still a 442 and not a 433 with Messi being deep with Iniesta and Paulinho with dembele out on the right and getting across in
LOL (Luisito, Ousmane and Lio) up front should be fun to watch. Semedo not rewarded for his good match against Celta. I would’ve started the better defender with both Busquets and Umtiti out.
Masch should've been the DM with pique playing as cb , not really confident of raki playing that position specially that Paulinho and iniesta are more offenseive players than defensive so defending the midfield will all fall on him , and with craperto back in defense they will be penetrating that right side of ours repeatedly , well at least shitmes isn't playing ...