MX23RW : Monday, November 25 13:55:38| >> :120:8028:8028:
[monks data]
Attendance: 22,387
Levante logo
La Liga | Gameweek 12
Nov 2, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

3-1

Campana (61'), Mayoral (63'), Radoja (68')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Messi (38' pen.)

Paco Lopez: 'Levante have to be perfect to beat Barcelona'

Paco Lopez: 'Levante have to be perfect to beat Barcelona'
© Reuters
Levante were the only side to beat Barca in the 2017-18 LaLiga campaign when they triumphed 5-4.

Levante boss Paco Lopez recalled his squad's 2018 5-4 defeat of Barcelona as they prepare to lock horns with the LaLiga leaders again on Saturday.

Lopez was three months into his role as head coach when he led the club to the victory, which was the first and only loss inflicted on Barca during their league winning 2017-18 campaign.

Levante are 11th in the Spanish top-flight having won four of their 11 matches so far, whereas Barcelona head the league by just a point from second-placed Real Madrid.

Ernesto Valverde is wary of the threat posed by Levante
Ernesto Valverde is wary of the threat posed by Levante (Nick Potts/PA)

"Across the season there are very few able to beat them," Lopez said at a pre-match press conference.

"That year (2018) was the penultimate day and nobody had been able to beat them and we did it. It is extremely difficult to win at Barca and you have to do the perfect things, you have to get a perfect match.

"With work, faith, commitment and that attitude and conviction, plus the help of the 22,000 who will be behind us, this team is capable of everything.

"What you have to do is good collective work and do those perfect things, but this team will show up."

Despite the stellar form of his squad, who have been victorious in their past seven fixtures across all competitions, Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde remains wary of the Valencia-based side.

"Levante have a deadly counterattack with very fast players," he said at a pre-match press conference.

"It'll be a complicated match like in previous years.

"We're doing well in the standings, but it's a long season and right now we need to win the games we play on the road. Levante won't be easy to play against."

The La Liga titleholders occupy their top spot but their reputation for early dominance was somewhat challenged by two early losses to both Athletic Bilbao and Granada.

Valverde said: "We wanted to lead in La Liga since the beginning, we didn't have a perfect start to the season but we are back to the top again.

"If you are at the top in La Liga and UCL, you are already where you want (to be) but we still have a long way to go. We have tough games upcoming now, against Levante and Slavia."

ID:377086: cacheID:377086:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5529:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane pictured on September 14, 2019
Read Next:
Zidane praises "phenomenal" Real Madrid after Levante win
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Athletic Bilbao146532013723
6Osasuna146441922-322
7GironaGirona146352018221
8Mallorca146351312121
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!