Levante – FC Barcelona: A tricky trip to Valencia

Barça face one of the trickiest trips of the season this Sunday evening, when they take on fourth placed Levante. It’ll be a tough test for Tito Vilanova’s men who come into the game on the back of their comfortable win in Moscow and will then be playing three home games at the Camp Nou- against Alaves, Athletic Club Bilbao and Benfica.

Thiago and Adriano back in squad

Tito Vilanova has been able to recall two of his first team squad members for the game, with both Thiago and Adriano fit again after injury, The Spanish international midfielder has been out after missing 11 games since his injury at the end of September and will give the boss another option in the middle of the park, whilst the Brazilian has been our for four games and will again be competing for a berth on the left hand side of defence with Jordi Alba.

David Villa is on the point of scoring his 300th league goal, but he will have to wait as the coach decided not to risk him following a series of niggles in his left ankle.

Building on last year’s success

It won’t be an easy game for Barça at the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia and the Catalans know what it it’s like to suffer there after last season’s hard fought 1-2 win. Already through to the next round of the Europa League and sitting comfortably in fourth spot, Juan Ignacio Martínez’s team are showing this season that last year’s success was no fluke and have so far only been beaten at home by Real Madrid.