Barcelona travel to the Estadi Ciutat de València on Sunday looking for a fifth win from five in La Liga, and the most interesting question of Hansi Flick’s week is not who plays — it is who gets protected. After 90 minutes each in a 5-1 Champions League win over Feyenoord, several of the Blaugrana’s starters are due a breather. Levante, unbeaten at home in six, are not the fixture to give one — which is what makes the Levante vs Barcelona predicted line-up a genuine puzzle rather than a formality.
Kick-off at the Ciutat de València is 16:15 CEST (15:15 UK). Here is how the Levante vs Barcelona predicted line-up looks 24 hours out.
Defence: Eric Garcia back, Espart restored
Joan Garcia continues in goal. In front of him, the notable return is Eric Garcia, who sat out the European opener serving a suspension carried over from last season and has trained this week in a protective mask after having his nose broken in an accidental collision with Rodri at Mestalla. As we reported in our Barcelona team news from Sunday’s build-up, he is available if Flick wants him, and Barca Blaugranes expect him to slot in at right-back.
Xavi Espart should return at left-back after being rested in midweek — the 19-year-old has taken that shirt so completely that Alejandro Balde is still waiting on his first minute of the season. In the middle, Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín look the likeliest pairing, largely because Andreas Christensen played the full 90 against Feyenoord and his workload needs managing rather than maximising. Martín’s rise, incidentally, is why Barcelona are already preparing improved terms for him.
One outside shout: Jesse Bisiwu has trained normally all week with his paperwork now in order, and is in line for a first-team debut at some stage.
Midfield: Rodri and Pedri set, Fermin for Olmo
The base picks itself. Rodri and Pedri have looked more convincing together with every match, and for a hostile away afternoon Flick will want both on the pitch controlling the tempo. The third spot is the genuine call. Fermín López is expected back in from the start, which would mean Dani Olmo dropping to the bench despite an excellent opening month.
Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji both remain long-term absentees — Deco put de Jong’s knee injury at three to four months on RAC1 — so Marc Bernal and Gavi are the in-house alternatives if Flick wants fresh legs after the hour.
Attack: Adeyemi makes way, reluctantly
Karim Adeyemi started and scored against Feyenoord, and did it with his supposedly weaker foot. The expectation is still that Anthony Gordon reclaims the left wing here, with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal untouchable in current form. The captain has eight goals in five appearances and was named in UEFA’s Champions League Team of the Week on top of his La Liga Player of the Month award for August. Barca Blaugranes have Raphinha operating through the middle in their XI rather than out wide — the false-nine role he has grown into this season — which would leave Gabriel Jesus, scorer on his Camp Nou debut, as the option from the bench.
Levante vs Barcelona predicted line-up in full
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Joan Garcia; Eric Garcia, Cubarsí, Gerard Martín, Espart; Fermín, Rodri, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Gordon.
What Barcelona are walking into
Levante have won their last six at home and battered Real Betis 5-2 there a fortnight ago. Captain Roger Brugué has already set the tone, telling club media his side will arrive “without fear, without any inferiority complex” — a warning we covered in full earlier this week.
History is not on his side. Barcelona have scored in all 34 of their La Liga meetings with Levante, 101 goals in total, and arrive having put 22 past opponents in five matches this season. They will do it in the new turquoise third kit, worn because Levante’s own colours clash with blaugrana.
Predicted line-ups are guesses, and Flick has a habit of making at least one that nobody saw coming. On current evidence, though, that is the only real suspense left.
