Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the La Liga clash between Levante and Barcelona from Valencia. Six wins, four draws and five defeats - that is how Levante have performed in La Liga this season, with a total of 22 points leaving them in eighth position in the table. Barcelona, meanwhile, are still top of La Liga, but have been joined on 31 points by both second-placed Sevilla and third-placed Atletico Madrid. Stay tuned for live updates from the La Liga affair!

Levante recorded a 5-4 win over Barcelona when the two teams met in Valencia on the penultimate weekend of the 2017-18 campaign. The result saw Barcelona's hopes of going the whole season unbeaten come to an end. The Catalan giants have won five of the last six La Liga meetings between the pair, however, including a 2-0 success away to Levante during the 2015-16 season.

Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news. Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi are back in the Barcelona XI, but who else? Let's have a look...

TEAMS!

LEVANTE: Oier; Pier, Postigo, Cabaco; Jason, Bardhi, Campana, Tono; Rochina, Boateng, Morales

BARCA: Ter Stegen; Vermaelen, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Vidal; Dembele, L Suarez, Messi

Alea Iacta Est #LevanteBarça #LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/FZRNa4qZIr — Levante UD 🐸 (@LevanteUD) December 16, 2018

Levante will once again be without the services of Armando Sadiku (knee), Samu Garcia (knee), Cheick Doukoure (calf) and Pedro Perez (muscle) tonight. Head coach Paco Lopez has no fresh injury concerns from the team that drew 4-4 with Eibar last weekend, though. Jose Luis Morales joins Emmanuel Boateng in the final third of the field of the field, meaning that on-loan Real Madrid forward Borja Mayoral is only on the bench for the home side.

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde rung the changes for the Champions League tie versus Tottenham Hotspur during the week, with Luis Suarez left out altogether while the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba were on the bench. All six will return to the starting XI, but Samuel Umtiti's ongoing absence with a knee problem means that Clement Lenglet will keep his position in central defence. Ousmane Dembele continued his excellent form with a cracker against Tottenham, and the France international will form part of the front three with Luis Suarez and Messi. Thomas Vermaelen will start at right-back as Nelson Semedo has a knee problem.

In truth, Barcelona did not really need to break a sweat in La Liga last term. Indeed, the Catalan giants lost just one of their 38 matches, winning 28 times, to storm to the title. They finished 14 points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid after proving far too strong for the competition.

📍 Ciutat de València 👑👕
⚽️ #LevanteBarça
🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/Aa6UBXTmYq — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 16, 2018

Barcelona again top the table entering the latter stages of 2018, but it has not been plain sailing this term. Indeed, Valverde's side have already dropped points in six of their 15 league games this season, drawing four times and suffering two defeats. The Catalan outfit have been joined on 31 points by both second-placed Sevilla and third-placed Atletico ahead of this game.

The Catalan giants are, unsurprisingly, the leading scorers in the league at this stage with 41 goals, but they have shipped 19 down the other end, which is far from the best record in the division. As Real Betis proved in their 4-3 win at Camp Nou last month, Valverde's team can certainly be scored against, and Levante have the firepower to harm the Spanish champions.

The Spanish champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League during the week, but had already booked their spot in the round of 16 as group winners ahead of the clash with the English club. Dembele's excellent solo goal sent Barcelona ahead on the night before Lucas Moura levelled for Tottenham late on.

🔥 MATCHDAY!
⚽ Levante v FC Barcelona
🏆 La Liga
🕘 8.45 pm CET
📍 Ciutat de Valencia
📲 #LevanteBarça
🔵🔴 #ForçaBarça pic.twitter.com/BxTydHsZp3

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 16, 2018

Barcelona have been very impressive in their last two league matches, meanwhile, following a 2-0 home success over Villarreal by winning 4-0 away to Catalan rivals Espanyol last weekend.

Valverde's team have not been perfect in the first half of the 2018-19 campaign, but they are through in both the Champions League and Copa del Rey, and top La Liga ahead of their final two matches of the year against Levante and Celta Vigo, which is not exactly disastrous.

Six wins, four draws and five defeats - that is how Levante have performed in La Liga this season, with a total of 22 points leaving them in eighth position in the table. They are only three points off fifth-placed Real Betis, and actually only nine points off Barcelona.

Siempre es especial enfrentarse a este rival 😉 Macho @LevanteUD!! 💪🏻🔵🔴 #LevanteBarça pic.twitter.com/su6pzlx8zx

— Ruben Rochina Naixes (@rubenrochina23) December 16, 2018

Promoted from the Segunda Division as winners in 2017, Levante secured another season of La Liga football by finishing 15th last term. The Frogs have now been present in eight of the last nine La Liga campaigns and will be looking to secure another season of top-flight action.

There is no question that the Valencia-based outfit have been performing above expectations in La Liga this term, having lost just five of their 15 matches during the 2018-19 campaign.

Only Barcelona (41), Sevilla (29) and Celta Vigo (28) have scored more league goals than Levante (27) this term, meanwhile, and they have already beaten Real Madrid this season, claiming a 2-1 success at the Bernabeu back in October. There is a lot of attacking talent in this side.

Ciutat, ya estamos aquí.

🐸👇#LevanteBarça pic.twitter.com/40oNYWTq0e

— Levante UD 🐸 (@LevanteUD) December 16, 2018

Between September 30 and October 27, Levante won four straight league matches against Alaves, Getafe, Real Madrid and Leganes. Since then, they have been victorious in just one of their five in Spain's top flight, although that was an impressive 3-0 home success over Athletic Bilbao.

Levante played out an incredible 4-4 draw with Eibar in the league last weekend, meanwhile, and there is no question that they have the tools to upset a Barcelona defence which has been far from secure this season. Kickoff in Valencia tonight is now just 15 minutes away!

Levante finished sixth in La Liga at the end of the 2011-12 campaign, and a positive result tonight would certainly aid suggestions that they are capable of securing a top-half finish come the end of this season. This is going to be a really tough test for Barcelona.

🎬 ⏩ 🎬 A rapid-fire look at Sunday's #LevanteBarça ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/jQ3DqBcC3k — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 15, 2018

As mentioned, Levante recorded a 5-4 win over Barcelona when the two teams met in Valencia on the penultimate weekend of the 2017-18 campaign. The result saw Barcelona's hopes of going the whole season unbeaten come to an end. The Catalan giants have won five of the last six La Liga meetings between the pair, however, including a 2-0 success away to Levante during the 2015-16 season.

PREDICTION! Levante have been impressive this season, but Barcelona were excellent at Espanyol last weekend, and we fancy the Spanish champions to triumph. Away win, 2-1.

Just a reminder of the two teams for this one...

LEVANTE: Oier; Pier, Postigo, Cabaco; Jason, Bardhi, Campana, Tono; Rochina, Boateng, Morales

BARCA: Ter Stegen; Vermaelen, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Vidal; Dembele, L Suarez, Messi

Here we go then; both sets of players have joined us on the pitch. It is Levante versus Barcelona in Spain's top flight. Let's hope for an entertaining game of football from Valencia.

KICKOFF:  Barcelona kick things off in Valencia...

... it must be said that there is a brilliant atmosphere inside the stadium tonight. Both teams have started in a 3-4-3 formation, meanwhile, meaning that Ivan Rakitic is in a slightly wider midfield role for Barcelona. Certainly an unfamiliar line up for the Spanish champions.

Not too much to report in the opening four minutes, but as expected, Levante are putting the pressure on Barcelona, with Boateng and Morales both showing their pace early on here.

CHANCE!  Boateng breaks into the Barcelona box before shooting towards goal, but Ter Stegen is on hand to make the save. Levante look very bright in the early moments.

Nothing much from Barcelona in the first seven minutes, with Levante very much on the front foot, while the home side are winning the majority of the 50/50 challenges early on.

Bit of pressure from Barcelona in the last few minutes, but Oier has not yet had to make a save against his former club. Luis Suarez has taken some kicks early in this match.

CLOSE!  Vermaelen heads over the Levante crossbar from a corner.

CLOSE!  Messi just misses the post with a curling strike from distance!

The first 13 minutes of this match indicate that there are going to be goals tonight, with both teams committing players in the final third of the field. Plenty of attacking talent.

Barcelona are passing and probing in the final third of the field, but cannot seem to work that final ball, with Levante clearing their lines. Still goalless with 15 minutes on the clock here.

Some tasty challenges going in at the moment, and Luis Suarez has certainly been on the receiving end. Barcelona are the team on the front foot at the moment here.

YELLOW CARD!  Dembele (Barcelona) is booked for a foul on Tono.

It must be said that the first 21 minutes of this match have flown past, even with chances few and far between. It is easy to see why Levante have performed so well in the league this term.

CLOSE!  Boateng comes close to meeting a cross from Jason, but it is just ahead of the striker, who scored a hat-trick in the corresponding match last season.

Levante continue to work space in the wide positions; Jason delivers another low cross towards Boateng, but Vermaelen manages to clear. Good work from the home side here.

YELLOW CARD!  Pier (Levante) is booked for a foul on Dembele.

Messi stands over a free kick just outside the Levante box...

SAVE!  ... comfortable save for Oier.

Levante have a free kick of their own now as Vermaelen fells Boateng...

... Rochina's free kick hits the top of the wall and deflects over.

Little under 15 minutes of the first period remaining, and we are still goalless, but both teams are throwing players forward. Morales has just run at the Barcelona defence but was eventually crowded out in a dangerous position. It has been a good game of football.

Boateng and Vidal have just clashed inside the Barcelona box, but the referee waves play on. Another corner comes into a dangerous position, and Lenglet makes the clearance.

OFF THE BAR!  Wonderful chance for Levante as the ball breaks for Boateng inside the Barcelona box and the striker smashes towards goal, but the ball hits the crossbar before being cleared! Boateng has been very, very dangerous for the home side in this match.

Dembele runs at Pier down the other end before looking to push the ball past the number four, who has already been booked, but the defender stays strong before making the clearance.

GOAL!  LEVANTE 0-1 BARCELONA (LUIS SUAREZ)

Barcelona make the breakthrough in the 35th minute as Messi drives into the Levante box before finding a perfect cross into Luis Suarez, who volleys home!

YELLOW CARD!  Rakitic (Barcelona) is booked for a foul on Bardhi.

Pique does well to block an effort from Morales as Levante look to hit back. The resulting corner is delivered into a dangerous area, but Barcelona manage to scramble clear.

You do get the feeling that Levante need to score the next goal in this match if they are to stand a chance of picking up a positive result. Barcelona are controlling the ball here.

Levante deliver another corner into the Barcelona box, but once again the quality is not great and the away side can clear their lines. Not long left to play in the first half of action.

SHOT!  Rakitic misses the post with a strike from distance.

GOAL!  LEVANTE 0-2 BARCELONA (LIONEL MESSI)

Barcelona double their advantage in the 43rd minute as a wonderful pass from Busquets releases Messi and the Argentine expertly slips the ball through the body of Oier.

YELLOW CARD!  Alba (Barcelona) is booked for dissent.

HALF TIME:  LEVANTE 0-2 BARCELONA

So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Barcelona leading Levante 2-0 courtesy of goals from Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, which both arrived in the final 10 minutes of the first half. Levante are unfortunate to be two goals behind in this one.

STATISTICS! Barcelona had 60% of the possession in the first period, while they had seven attempts, three of which were on target. Levante, meanwhile, hit the target with two of their seven attempts. Four yellows to report here - Dembele, Rober Pier, Rakitic and Alba.

BENCH WATCH! Chema, Coke, Mayoral, Roger and Simon are among those on the Levante bench tonight, and we might well see one of those at the interval. As for Barcelona, a strong bench includes Coutinho, Arthur and Denis Suarez. Plenty of talent on the sidelines tonight.

KICKOFF:  Levante resume the action here...

... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as play develops here.

This formation does not really suit Dembele as the Frenchman is being forced back into a defensive position, but Messi and Luis Suarez are having an excellent time.

GOAL!  LEVANTE 0-3 BARCELONA (LIONEL MESSI)

It is four for Barcelona as Alba delivers a wonderful low cross into the Levante box and Messi sweeps the ball into the bottom corner of the net. That is game, set and match.

I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the scoring as both teams continue to commit players in the final third. Morales has just failed to run away from Pique in a dangerous area.

BARCELONA SUB! Arthur replaces Vermaelen for the away side.

Possession football for Levante at the moment, but it is almost as if Dembele and Luis Suarez are just waiting to race away on the counter-attack. There are more goals in this game.

CHANCE!  Pique does well to block a strike from Campana as Levante manage to work a chance in a wide position. Oier then manages to keep out a Suarez effort down the other end.

Vidal looks to have a problem for Barcelona and might not be able to continue.

Vidal took a blow to the back, but seems fine to continue following a period on the ground. Little over 30 minutes of football remaining, and Ter Stegen has just gathered a free kick.

YELLOW CARD!  Jason (Levante) is booked for dissent.

GOAL!  LEVANTE 0-4 BARCELONA (LIONEL MESSI, HAT-TRICK)

Barcelona have their fourth of the match and Messi has his third as the Argentine taps a low Vidal cross into the bottom corner of the net. So clinical from Barcelona tonight.

LEVANTE SUB! Mayoral replaces Boateng for the home side.

Little over 25 minutes of the second period remaining, and both teams are still committing players forward. I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals in this one.

Barcelona won 4-0 away at Espanyol last weekend, and will be looking to beat that result tonight. Back-to-back 4-0 away victories would not be too bad, though.

Possession football from Barcelona at the moment as they pass and probe.

LEVANTE SUB! Coke replaces Rochina for Levante.

LEVANTE SUB! Prcic replaces Postigo for Levante.

Not too much to report in terms of chances at the moment, but Barcelona are still dominating the possession, with Dembele desperate to get his name on the scoresheet.

CLOSE!  Bardhi just misses the post with a strike from distance!

SHOT!  Campana has just blazed high and wide of the Barcelona crossbar.

RED CARD!  CABACO! Red card for Cabaco for a horrible challenge on Dembele!

BARCELONA SUB! Coutinho replaces Vidal for Barcelona.

Little over 10 minutes of the second period remaining, and Barcelona are still looking for more goals here. It has not quite been the night that Levante would have had in mind.

CHANCE!  Huge miss from Luis Suarez, who fires past the post having been set up by Messi. Really should have been Barcelona's fifth of the evening there.

SAVE!  Smart save from Ter Stegen to deny Mayoral.

BARCELONA SUB! Denis Suarez replaces Dembele for Barcelona.

SHOT!  Coutinho fires high and wide of the Levante crossbar.

SAVE!  Smart save from Oier to keep out a low Denis Suarez strike.

GOAL!  LEVANTE 0-5 BARCELONA (PIQUE)

Barcelona have their fifth of the match as Pique finds the back of the net from inside the box having ventured forward! A bit of luck, but the ball trickles home!

We are into the first of two minutes of additional time.

SAVE!  Excellent save from Ter Stegen to keep out a strike from Prcic.

DISALLOWED GOAL!  Mayoral smashes home for Levante, but the offside flag is raised.

FULL TIME:  LEVANTE 0-5 BARCELONA

So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Barcelona recording a 5-0 win over Levante in Valencia to move three points clear at the summit. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live minute-by-minute coverage once again. See you next time!