Levante have been playing with a back five formation and are expected to continue to play the 5-3-2 that will ensure they are hard to break down at Camp Nou.
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He takes a good first touch but hammers his shot straight at the keeper who is able to adjust his body to block it. either side of the goal and Mateo would have been celebrating there.
The Catalan giants are set to face Eduardo Berizzo’s men at Balaidos tonight and will be attempting to secure their fifth successive league win to consolidate their lead at the top of the table.
These two teams have the highest share of possession across all sides in La Liga so far this season (Barcelona 70.16% & Celta 64.97%). And that was against Real Madrid, not a small, provincial club like Celta.
Celta sit second, behind Madrid only on goal difference, after comprehensively inflicting Barca’s first league defeat since February.
Celta have enjoyed a very impressive start to the new season and, on paper, there is much to recommend backing the hosts to win at long odds of 11/2.
“We saw the quality that Celta have and that was the reason why we lost”. Messi missed a sitter in the opening minutes of the second, then forced a great save from Sergio.
They could, and should, have reduced the arrears early in the second half but Messi’s volley was kept out by Alvarez once again. Celta are coming off a big result over the weekend, having won away to Sevilla.
This match marks the third time Barcelona have conceded four goals in one match this season and it is quite clear that Luis Enrique needs to work on his defense.
John Guidetti, however, restored Celta’s three-goal buffer three minutes later.
Alvarez punched clear from a corner and Nolito found Aspas just inside his own half.
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Neither team made any chances during halftime, which was only surprising in Barcelona’s case as Lucho still had the option of bringing Rakitić on the pitch for one of the underperforming pair of Sergi Roberto or Dani Alves. Whatever the cause, what cannot be debated is that such an error should not happen to a player of Pique’s standing. They managed to upset Barca last season, while also taking points off Atletico Madrid and Valencia.
