Barcelona didn’t have much fun midweek. They went to Rome expecting a nice little trip in the Italian countryside. Maybe visit the Coliseum, enjoy some nice Chianti, sip some espresso. Instead, Roma punched them in the mouth a few times and kept the Catalan giants from winning the match, something Barcelona definitely didn’t expect to have happen.
Barcelona vs. Levante 2015 live stream: Start time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Injuries and suspensions are steadily depleting Barcelona, but they’ll probably beat Levante anyways.
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So now they’re back home at the Camp Nou, and who should be coming around the corner but Levante? Poor, hapless Levante. The lovable losers of Valencia never seem to win when they go to Barcelona. In fact, more often than not they seem to get pounded into the dirt when they head to Barca’s stomping grounds. In point of fact, they find out just where the term “stomping grounds” comes from. Who better for Barcelona to work out that frustration and annoyance out on?
Poor Levante. They won’t even see what hits them.
Key player -- Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Lionel Messi is, in footballing terms, superhuman. On his day, no one can stop him. On “not” his day, most of the footballing world still can’t stop him. He’s the single-toughest player in the game to defend against, but for some reason he hasn’t quite been himself yet this season. Maybe he’s worn out, maybe he’s not completely healthy, maybe he’s bored, maybe he just hasn’t gotten back into the swing of the season yet. Who knows. But if he turns the switch back on, Levante are pretty much screwed.
Upset potential -- Basically none -- but not none at all
Levante have been humbled in their last few trips to the Camp Nou, and for the most part it looks like this match will be no different. There is a chance, however a faint one, for them to find a way to end that depressing run of fate. Barcelona’s defense is battered right now, and for all their faults Levante actually have a fairly decent attack. If they can catch that worn down defense off their guard, if they can find a crack in some makeshift portion of the team, then maybe, just maybe, they can find a way to win.
But they probably won’t, because Levante pretty much always lose at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona injuries and suspensions
Out: Rafinha (knee), Thomas Vermaelen (calf), Claudio Bravio (calf), Dani Alves groin), Gerard Pique (suspended) In doubt: Douglas (hamstring)
Levante injuries and suspensions
Out: Simaro Mate (suspended) In doubt: list
Barcelona have been hammered by injury early in the season, and it only got worse during Champions League action when Rafinha blew out his knee. That takes away a key piece of Barca’s attacking depth, but their defense is much worse off right now, with three starters out of this match between injuries and Pique’s suspension.
Match Date/Time: Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET, 8: 30 p.m. local
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
TV: beIN Sports (U.S. & Canada), Canal+ Partidazo, Movistar TV Futbol (Spain), Sky Sports 5/HD (U.K.)
Online: FuboTV, beIN Sports Connect (U.S. & Canada), Sky Go (U.K.)
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