Defending La Liga champions FC Barcelona will continue their title defense on the road as they travel to face newly-promoted Levante at the Estadi Ciutat de València on Saturday, August 23, 2025. While Barcelona began their campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over Mallorca, manager Hansi Flick is reportedly demanding a more complete and intense performance from his squad.
Despite the comfortable scoreline in their season opener, Flick was said to be furious with his team’s perceived complacency in the second half, especially after Mallorca were reduced to nine men. According to reports from Sports Illustrated, the German manager has privately and publicly called on his players to maintain their focus for the full 90 minutes, a standard he believes is necessary to retain their La Liga crown.
In a significant development for the upcoming match, team lineups suggest a surprise start for Marcus Rashford in Barcelona’s attacking line. The English forward is slated to feature alongside Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, playing in support of striker Ferran Torres. This tactical shift comes as star forward Robert Lewandowski edges closer to a full return from injury and may feature from the bench. The Catalans will be without their first-choice goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who is sidelined with a long-term injury, with Joan García expected to deputize.
For Levante, their return to Spain’s top flight after winning the Segunda División last season began with a 2-1 defeat to Alavés. Managed by Julián Calero, the team faces a monumental task against the reigning champions. Their challenge is compounded by several injury concerns, with new signing Jon Ander Olasagasti listed as a doubt alongside Alan Matturro, Kervin Arriaga, and Goduine Koyalipou. According to Barca Blaugranes, Levante has also faced difficulties registering their full squad, which could limit their options.
Historically, Barcelona has dominated this fixture, winning 24 of the last 32 encounters, with only three losses, as per data from the BBC. However, Levante has proven to be a difficult opponent at home. Barcelona has managed to win just two of their last six matches at the Ciutat de València across all competitions, a statistic that will give the home side a glimmer of hope. Levante is expected to deploy a defensive 5-4-1 formation, aiming to frustrate Barcelona and strike on the counter-attack.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 9:30 p.m. local time (CET) and will be officiated by referee Alejandro José Hernández Hernández. With Flick demanding a response and a motivated squad looking to impress, Barcelona are strong favorites, but Levante’s resilience at home promises a compelling contest.
Predicted Lineups:
Levante (5-4-1): Campos; Toljan, de la Fuente, Elgezabal, Cabello, Sánchez; Brugué, Martínez, Rey, Morales; Romero
FC Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Joan García; Eric García, Araujo, Cubarsí, Balde; Casadó, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Rashford; Torres
