Talking points as Barcelona fight back to beat Levante 3-2 | OneFootball

FC Barcelona played their second La Liga game of the season against Levante, and right from the start, it was clear that this would be no easy task. Trips to the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia have always been complicated, and this encounter was no different.

The pitch conditions worked against the visitors, while Levante had every advantage on their side to frustrate Hansi Flick’s men. The hosts executed their plan well and deservedly went into half-time with a 2-0 lead.

Hansi Flick’s ultra-attacking formation of starting four attackers did not pay off, and the German coach quickly understood his mistake. He brought Dani Olmo and Gavi on at half-time, and the dynamics changed, almost instantly.

Ultimately, it was yet another memorable comeback for Flick’s team, which ended the game as 3-2 winners and eventually walked away with the three points. With all this in mind, here are three talking points from Sempre Barca following the clash between Barcelona and Levante.

1. The high-line from Barcelona was all over the place

One of the names that Barcelona missed most last night was Inigo Martinez. In the absence of the Spanish veteran’s leadership, there was no one in there capable of organizing the backline against Levante.

What this meant was that the high line was all over the place on the night. Eric, Balde, and Araujo were all culpable of not stepping up at the right moment on different occasions, resulting in many threatening counters from Levante.

Cubarsi, on the other hand, although strong in his positioning, showed signs of fragility when it came to defensive duels. The Spanish teenager seemed to be getting physically abused by the Levante attackers and was far too soft.

Hansi Flick will know that he has to address this situation as soon as possible and get the high line working again. If not, this could come back to haunt the team during big games, as their style of play always poses a huge risk if the high-line isn’t held properly.

2. Pedri – jack of all trades and master of them all

The notion of Pedri not being a complete midfielder is quickly going out of the window. In fact, a case can be made for the Canary Islander being the most complete midfielder in the world, as there doesn’t seem to be anything he cannot do.

Pedri ran the show against Levante, almost single-handedly in midfield, controlling the tempo at which the game was played. He showcased his dribbling abilities and control in close spaces with quick touches in and around the box.

He showcased his passing range with the way he continually found the right teammates to distribute the ball to. And when it mattered the most, with the score at 2-0 in Levante’s favour, the youngster produced an absolute rocket to give Barcelona a glimmer of hope.

It is safe to say that Pedri has been Barcelona’s best signing of the last decade. If he continues like this, the world is his oyster, and he can continue to hit even greater heights. Let’s wait and see how things play out for the Spaniard in the coming months.

3. Deep-block destroyer

You may like him, you may not be fond of him, but one of the most undeniable facts in world football is that there are very few players who are more potent playing in between the lines against a deep block than Dani Olmo.

The Spanish attacking midfielder didn’t start the game in Valencia but was brought on at half-time and instantly opened out the game. Although he might not have done anything significant, his presence allowed players around him to thrive.

Levante had parked the bus with a line of 5 and a line of 4 staying compact with one another, not giving the kind of space Barcelona would like. The best part about Olmo is that he doesn’t actually need much space to influence the game, though.

In particular game states like the one against Levante, Olmo should be one of the first names on the team sheet for Hansi Flick. It was a tactically smart substitution from the German coach, and it is safe to say that it paid off, handsomely!