Match Preview:Barcelona vs Levante

Barcelona	vs	Levante
	Kick off: 18:00 Date: Sun, 18-Aug-13

Probable Lineups

4-3-3

Barcelona

4-2-3-1

Levante

• Valdés
• N/A

• Alba
• N/A

• Mascherano
• N/A

• Piqué
• N/A

• Alves
• N/A

• Iniesta
• N/A

• Busquets
• N/A

• Xavi
• N/A

• Neymar
• N/A

• Messi
• N/A

• Pedro
• N/A

• Navas
• N/A

• Juanfran
• N/A

• Navarro
• N/A

• Vyntra
• N/A

• López
• N/A

• Iborra
• N/A

• Diop
• N/A

• Jason
• N/A

• Zhar
• N/A

• Ríos
• N/A

• Barral
• N/A

Team News

Barcelona

• Neymar is expected to make his competitive debut at the Camp Nou and declared during the week he is 100 per cent fit to play after making a full recovery from an operation on his tonsils.
• Leo Messi and Cesc Fabregas face late fitness tests to determine if they will play, after missing international friendlies with Argentina and Italy respectively.
• Gerardo Martino will take charge of Barcelona for the first time in a competitive game and if his side’s pre-season games are anything to go on, he will stick with the team’s style of constant ball retention and pressuring the opponents high up the pitch.

Levante

• Joaquin Caparros takes charge of his first official game since he was sacked by Mallorca in February.
• The former Athletic Bilbao coach’s teams are renowned for a physical and conservative approach and it is hard to see him playing any other way against the champions.

Match Facts

There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 29 of Barcelona's last 33 games in La Liga.	Over 2.5 goals 1.29
Barcelona have won their last 15 home matches in La Liga.	Barcelona win 1.09
Barcelona have scored at least 2 goals in 16 of their last 17 home matches in La Liga.	Over 1.5 goals 1.07
Barcelona have won their last 7 home matches against Levante in all competitions.	Barcelona win 1.09
Barcelona have been winning at both half time and full time in 5 of their last 7 home matches in La Liga.	Barcelona win/win 1.40
There have been under 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Levante's last 7 games in La Liga.	Under 2.5 goals 4.40
* Best odds for selected bets are shown

Prediction

• Although Barça only beat Levante 1-0 in this fixture last season, Martino will be keen to leave a good impression on fans in his first real test at the Camp Nou, while Neymar will also be desperate to prove to the home fans he is worth the €57 million the club paid for him.
• With Lionel Messi also expected to pass a late fitness test, a home win under new head coach Gerardo Martino is expected.

Prediction:

Barcelona

4

0

Levante