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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."

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid33266171224984
2GironaGirona33225669402971
3Barcelona32217464372770
4Atletico MadridAtletico33204962392364
5Athletic Bilbao331610753332058
6Real Sociedad331312846351151
7Real BetisBetis32121284038248
8Valencia32138113534147
9Getafe331013104145-443
10Villarreal32119125155-442
11Osasuna32116153746-939
12AlavesAlaves33108153138-738
13Sevilla32910134145-437
14Las PalmasLas Palmas33107163041-1137
15Rayo Vallecano32713122739-1234
16Mallorca32613132638-1231
17Celta Vigo33710163750-1331
18CadizCadiz32413152245-2325
19Granada3239203361-2818
20Almeria33111213267-3514


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