Llevant - Barça

Date: Sunday, 11/25/2012 21:00
Competition: League
Television: C+1 - C+1 HD
Referee: Pérez Montero

I guess we will go with one of our best 11 because the game will be difficult. Llevant is having another great season.

VV
Alves Pique Alba
Xavi Busquets Iniesta
Pedro Messi Tello

Definitely potential banana peel, one of the toughest away matches of the season...Would love to see a string of imperious performances

Levante are a tough tough team, but I believe we usually do well against them. Or at least struggle less than most teams.

Still, if we going to lose points, these are the kind of games.

Levante to get crushed 4-0





















Or win 2-1 <3

Levante have been playing well recently after a short dip of form a few weeks ago and an unlucky loss to Madrid. But let's not forget they have played a match in midweek, albeit not of high intensity, in Europa League.

Certainly a high intensity game and Barcelona need to play close to their best to get the three points from the Valencians. This will be one of their many tough away matches still to be played with Madrid, Betis, Valencia, Atheltic, Atlético, Málaga and Espanyol still to be played.

To be honest, Levante shouldn't cause us much problems maybe madrid because of their play style but our possession ruins most of their best plays, they'll resort to parking the buss and countering so the only way we can lose if Messi/Villa/Pedro decide not to show up like against Celtic.

As i mentioned in the Spartak thread, i am actually worried about this game. I think Levante are having a great spell and can cause us trouble. I also agree danyjr that next games are really important and could dictate the tone of the rest of the campaign.

Is it just me or does Barca really perform better in away matches than in Camp Nou this season?

Deja Vu wrote:Is it just me or does Barca really perform better in away matches than in Camp Nou this season?

It's just you, we still play average in away matches, such as in Real Madrid, Celtic stadiums etc (our only losses)

If we play that side that Free suggested, we will win. Defense should be strong enough to not concede too many and we have so much talent up front to get goals. It will be a tough away game but we should get away with a win...

Donuts wrote:

Deja Vu wrote:Is it just me or does Barca really perform better in away matches than in Camp Nou this season?

It's just you, we still play average in away matches, such as in Real Madrid, Celtic stadiums etc (our only losses)

I meant in La Liga. My bad.

We are yet to lose points on away matches and I think we've scored more on them, too.

I second op lineup, we need more playtime for our theoretical XI. Mascherano may not have had the best of recent weeks, but I do want him to play.

I have a feeling Cesc will start, puyol pique in our back thankfully.

Villa out with a knock to his ankle and Valdes potentially with calf discomfort

Trident likely to be Leo, Tello, Pedro...but not much depth without Alexis or David...Guess we might see Cesc/Iniesta playing as attacking forward players

Iniesta will play on wing then :/
if Villa is out for more than two weeks then we can see Adriano in left back and Alba in wing, but tomorrow will be Iniesta time

FCBarça wrote:Villa out with a knock to his ankle and Valdes potentially with knee discomfort

Trident likely to be Leo, Tello, Pedro...but not much depth without Alexis or David...Guess we might see Cesc/Iniesta playing as attacking forward players

Ill news. Would have loved Villa to have a start...
Pinto in goals... Any comfort?

------------------messi----
-----iniesta----------------------pedro

-----------cesc-----------xavi--
--------- -----busquets----------

alba------puyol-------pique-----alves


Show no restraint boys!! Lets go for the jugular. Gifts from the capital dont come everyday.

^ OMG thats nearly an entire La Masia first 11!!

Alves ain't La Masia

Don't know what to make of this game. This is the kind of game that win you league titles. Levante are tough and physical and I'm sure won't make it easy for us. The Madrid loss could either make us more relaxed or focus more, I'd like to think the later but I could see people like Pique relaxing more.

Villa is out, Valdes doesn't have any problem, he will play. Tito is bringing 3 GK as a routine, like they do in CL.

I think Tello will play, away we have mor spaces and it would be foolish to play Iniesta in the wings instead of a fast player.

Btw, does somoeone know where I can see the players called up for Levante game? I just can't find it anywhere!

I just don't see Tello starting, to me he will always be a super sub, wish Cuenca would come back sooner.

Donuts wrote:I just don't see Tello starting, to me he will always be a super sub, wish Cuenca would come back sooner.

Don't see why. He has played very well in games he has started, like vs. Spartak, Deportivo or Mallorca.
He is also playing much better than Alexis this season, who has started like 30 games in the last year, so I think Tello can start sometimes, although I agree he does great as super sub.

Tomorrow Tello should definitely start over Iniesta in the wings IMO.

free_cat wrote:

Donuts wrote:I just don't see Tello starting, to me he will always be a super sub, wish Cuenca would come back sooner.

Don't see why. He has played very well in games he has started, like vs. Spartak, Deportivo or Mallorca.
He is also playing much better than Alexis this season, who has started like 30 games in the last year, so I think Tello can start sometimes, although I agree he does great as super sub.

Tomorrow Tello should definitely start over Iniesta in the wings IMO.

He does good as a starter but Iniesta seems more effective in my opinion
He is great to bring on in the 60-75th minutes because of his pace and the opponent's are usually too tired to chase him down.

this game's importance has just doubled.

Btw, I HATE seeing Iniesta play on the wing. Tito wasn't playing him there early on but as of late has. Hope he stops that nonsense.

Iniesta has been playing on the wing ever since he publicly stated that "I don't see it normal that I'm on the bench this much". Probably has something to do with it.