This weekend features a battle of top-versus-bottom in La Liga, with first-place Barcelona going to visit at last-place Levante. This has all the appearances of a straightforward match for the league leaders -- Barcelona are one of the best teams in the world, and Levante are in last place because they simply aren’t very good.
Barcelona vs. Levante 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch La Liga online
This first-versus-last battle in La Liga shouldn’t prove much of a challenge for Barcelona.
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That’s not to say that there aren’t opportunities to be had here for Barcelona. They have a few players who are somewhat under-utilized for whom this match would be a wonderful opportunity to play and show off their stuff. If they do well in this match, it will make life significantly easier for Luis Enrique as he tries to sort out his rotation ahead of a crowded period of matches with the Champions League stacking on top of their La Liga schedule and the rest of their Copa del Rey run. The more quality rotation options Enrique has, the better their chances of defending the treble they won last year and becoming the first three-time European treble winners in history, as well as the first club to win consecutive trebles.
Key player -- Arda Turan (Barcelona)
With Barcelona likely to rotate heavily, this will be another good opportunity for Turan to show just why they bought him last summer. His ability to dominate his flank of the pitch will be key to this match, disrupting Levante’s back line and keeping the fullback he’s lined up against pinned back and unable to join the attack. Turan’s hard-working style is a good option to add to Barcelona’s attack, and it’s going to be fun watching how they work it into their tactics.
Key matchup -- Giuseppi Rossi (Levante) vs. Gerard Pique (Barcelona)
Rossi represents something of a desperation play by Levante, bringing in a wonderfully talented but injury-wrought striker on loan to try to prop up an attack that has scored only 21 goals all season. He’s already had some impact, scoring once in two games since joining in January -- a greater impact than the whopping zero goals in 18 games scored by their big summer signing, Nabil Ghilas. With the focus of Levante’s attack likely to go through Rossi, it will be down to Pique to slow him down and keep him at bay. If he does, it’s going to be awfully hard for Levante to get much of anything going in the attack.
Levante injuries and suspensions
Out: Ruben Garcia, Victor Casadesus, Pedro Lopez, Juanfran, Jose Mari
Barcelona injuries and suspensions
Out: Rafinha
Match Date/Time: Sunday, 6 a.m. ET, 12 p.m. local
Venue: Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
TV: beIN Sports (U.S. - English), beIN Sports en Español (U.S. - Spanish), Canal+ Liga/HD (Spain), Sky Sports 5/HD (U.K.)
Online: beIN Sports Connect, Fubo TV (U.S.), Sky Go (U.K.)
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