Barcelona v Levante
TOTEAM NEWS
Gerard Pique is banned for Barca, with Carles Puyol expected to step in. Centre-half Pique avoided having his ban extended to include the match against Real Madrid 10 dec after the Spanish federation decided he had not deliberately picked up a fifth yellow card this season to free himself for the Clasico. Adriano has a muscle problem and will not play – young winger Isaac Cuenca could feature from the start. Levante are missing key playmaker Jose Barkero through suspension.
MANAGER QUOTES
Pep Guardiola: To follow Juan Ignacio Martinez: To follow
MATCH FACTS
Levante have lost their final six league matches at the Camp Nou, despite scoring in five of these. Barcelona are the first side in the history of the Spanish league to keep a clean sheet in 11 consecutive league games at home (the last to do so was Almería in April). The Azulgrana are unbeaten in their last 26 league games at the Camp Nou (23 wins, three draws). Against Sporting, Levante ended a run of three consecutive league defeats. Juan Ignacio Martínez’s men are the second highest-scoring side on the road in La Liga this period (nine). Barcelona have scored the most goals in the opening 15 minutes of league games this time (10, five more than second-placed Real Madrid). Levante’s record for most goals scored in games in the Primera Division (5-1 at home in 64/65) and conceded (2-6 away in 07/08) both came against Barcelona. The four teams to have registered the most possession at the Camp Nou this season (Rayo, Atlético, Zaragoza and Mallorca) have all conceded at least four goals. Arouna Koné has by now scored more league goals with Levante this season (five) than he did with Sevilla and Hannover combined (three).
MATCH ODDS
Barcelona 1/10, Levante 25/1, Draw 15/2
No comments:
Post a Comment