Julian Calero prepares his Levante squad for a difficult challenge against reigning La Liga champions Barcelona this Saturday evening. The Segunda Division champions will host Hansi Flick's side at Ciudad de Valencia stadium, hoping to bounce back from their disappointing 2-1 defeat to Alaves in the opening round.
"We understand this season will be challenging, but we believe in our capabilities and home advantage," Calero might say ahead of the crucial fixture against the Catalan giants.
The task ahead looks daunting for "Levante" - they've won just six of their previous 45 matches against "Barcelona". Their last victory over the Catalans dates back to November 2019, though fans might remember the dramatic 5-4 home win from May 2018.
"Barcelona" started their campaign in convincing fashion, defeating "Mallorca" 3-0 in their season opener. Raphinha and Ferran Torres found the net within the first 23 minutes, with Lamine Yamal adding a third after the break. Two red cards for Mallorca certainly made things easier for Flick's men.
Interestingly, Levante has been quite active in the transfer market this summer. Their most expensive acquisition, Jon Ander Olasagasti from Real Sociedad, might miss the match due to fitness concerns. Jeremy Toljan, who scored on his debut against Alaves, is expected to start alongside another newcomer, Manu Sanchez.
For "Barcelona", goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen remains sidelined with injury, while Robert Lewandowski has returned to training but will likely start on the bench due to thigh problems. Ferran Torres, who scored in the opening match, is expected to continue as the central striker.
The Catalan side, who netted an impressive 102 goals in La Liga last season, look formidable again, especially after signing Marcus Rashford. Despite suffering six league defeats last season, they're aiming for improvement both domestically and in the Champions League, where they reached the semifinals last year.
Can the "Frogs" cause an upset against one of Spain's giants? With their passionate home crowd behind them, Levante will certainly give it their all, but Barcelona's firepower makes them clear favorites for Saturday's clash.
