Levante, a Rival to Watch Out for for Flick's Barcelona: What are Their Weapons?

FC Barcelona will face Levante UD in the second matchday of LaLiga 2025/26 next Saturday (August 23rd), in what will be coach Hansi Flick's first match against the 'granota' team after their return to the top tier of Spanish football after three seasons.

It's worth remembering that last May 25th, Carlos Álvarez scored a fantastic goal in the 97th minute against Burgos CF to win 3-2 and seal the Valencian team's long-awaited promotion.

The memory of July 18, 2023, still hurt, as that penalty conceded in the 120th minute, the last gasp of extra time in the playoff against Alavés, frustrated the dream of promotion.

Curiously, fate has dictated that the Vitoria team is now their first opponent in the newly recovered category, and they won again (2-1) at Mendizorroza last Saturday (August 16th).

Levante, with solid arguments to trouble Barcelona

In this context, the 'granota' team has players with experience at the highest level. Among them, José Luis Morales, Manu Sánchez, Jon Ander Olasagasti, Pablo Martínez, Víctor García, and Álex Primo.

Precisely, Levante's '11' has scored 3 goals against Barcelona, in addition to assisting on 2 occasions. He achieved this both as a 'granota' player and as part of Villarreal CF.

Thus, Levante arrives with important assets to face the commitment, which in principle should be the reaffirmation of Barça's good present and closing it with a victory is expected.

Despite this, the 'levantinista' team, with their coach Julián Calero, arrives with the momentum of facing a new season in the first division, which could be an impulse to face Barça.

Levante, a very careful 'giant killer' for Barça

Barça will arrive at the match after securing the victory against Osasuna at Son Moix; almost without breaking a sweat, the azulgranas thrashed the 'bermellones' 0-3, in a new demonstration that they are one of the best teams in the world today.

However, the Valencia team is very careful, as it has the reputation of being a 'giant killer', something that was demonstrated in the 2021/22 season when it did not allow either Real Madrid or Atlético to secure a victory at their ground.

Therefore, the Ciutat de València stadium has been the scene of great feats for Levante in recent years. In their stronghold, they achieved draws against the 'Casa Blanca' (3-3) and the 'colchoneros' (2-2) in that last campaign in the first division.

In contrast, the 'levantinistas' conceded at home against Barça in the final stretch of the match (2-3), with an agonizing goal from Frenkie de Jong. The 'granota' fans, however, hold with special affection the historic 5-4 victory against Barça in 2018, the only defeat suffered by Ernesto Valverde's team.