Barca Universal
·23 agosto 2025
Levante president in confident mood ahead of Barcelona clash – ‘I’m sure there will be a way to stop Lamine’

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Yahoo sportsBarca Universal
·23 agosto 2025
Levante are back in La Liga three years after their last relegation, and are all set to square off against reigning champions FC Barcelona in the second matchweek.
Indeed, the newly-promoted club will lock horns with Hansi Flick’s brigade later tonight at Ciutat de Valencia, with the visitors going in as the undisputed favourites.
However, Levante president Pablo Sanchez expressed confidence in his team ahead of the Barcelona encounter.
Sanchez arrived shortly after 14:30 at the entrance of the restaurant El Gordo de Cortés, where the traditional institutional lunch was held.
Barcelona were represented at the lunch by club president Joan Laporta, vice-president Rafa Yuste and presidential adviser Enric Masip.
Sanchez, both confident and excited about the chance of upsetting the reigning league champions, was asked by the media about how to stop the Catalans’ biggest weapon, Lamine Yamal. He was clear in his response:
“Lamine is very difficult to stop, but I’m sure there will be a way to stop him,” he said.
Levante president confident his team can stop Lamine Yamal. (Photo by Rafa Babot/Getty Images)
When asked what advantage a newly-promoted side like Levante might have in their attempt to defeat the champions, described by Sanchez as “a great team,” he had no doubts:
“The fans are our great strength, as the stadium will be packed. That is Levante’s great strength. They will be the twelfth player… and perhaps with 12 against 11 we can beat them.”
The Levante president emphasised that only a competitive mindset makes sense in football:
“On the pitch, it is 11 against 11, and of course, we are going to try to win,” he insisted.
The Levante president also underlined the excitement generated by the club’s return to the top flight, saying:
“After three years in the Second Division, we can once again enjoy First Division football.”
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