Barcelona's predicted lineup vs Levante

Hansi Flick makes wholesale changes for the trip to the Ciutat de València, with Eric Garcia the headline return. The right-back missed the Feyenoord win through suspension and will wear a protective mask, having fractured his nose in an accidental clash with Rodri during last week's game at Mestalla, also in Valencia.

Gerard Martín and Xavi Espart, both rested in midweek, are also pencilled in to start, at centre-back alongside Pau Cubarsí and at left-back respectively. That points to a settled back four minus Jules Koundé, who drops to the bench along with Andreas Christensen. Koundé has scored seven goals since joining from Sevilla in October 2022 and offers Flick cover across the defensive line.

In midfield, Rodri and Pedri continue as the pivot, with Fermín López just ahead of them. Up front, Flick is expected to restore Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Anthony Gordon, the front three he has used more than any other this season. Gordon was left out against Feyenoord in favour of Adeyemi; Lamine Yamal and Raphinha have started every match so far and remain first choice.

Barcelona go into the game top of La Liga, unbeaten in four league matches, having scored 17 goals and conceded two. That run was extended in midweek with a 5-1 rout of Feyenoord in the Champions League opener. Levante, by contrast, sit in the bottom half with five points from four games, though they are unbeaten in their last three, a run that includes a 5-2 win over Real Betis either side of draws with Osasuna and Málaga.

The fixture falls in a heavy run for Barcelona, who by 19 September will have played eight matches in 28 days since the season began, a game every three-and-a-half days. That schedule, rather than any concern over Levante, is by all accounts the driving force behind the rotation.