bookd.
Levante
Barcelona
After an extraordinary start to the league campaign, followed by what seems to be a weekly exhibition from Europe’s finest front three utterly humiliating every side they come across. The defending champions and current league leaders, F.C. Barcelona, return for the fifth match-day with aspirations of continuing their incredible form against one of Spain’s most overlooked clubs. With a perfect record of 12 points from 12, Barça have flourished behind the extremely threatening partnership of Raphinha and Lamine, supported by the prolific signing of Rodri who links with Pedri superbly and backed by the world-class defending of Pau Cubarsí and the one and only Joan “Super” Garcia. Where, the Catalan giants are arguably the most in-form club in the world, with a sheer abundance of quality oozing from the Barça Boys at a level not witnessed since the dusk of their golden age. Los Blaugranas now travel down to the Valencian Community once more to face a much older club that may not harbor the same historical significance or renown as their direct rivals from last week, but what Levante Unión Deportiva lack in prestige, they make up for with an unbent spirit to always put up a fight. From the pits of the lower divisions to the highs of battling it out in relegation scraps, Levante are a club that always put on a show, no matter how brutish or dirty it may become. This is especially evident at their home ground, simply now called the Estadi Ciutat de València, which has established itself as a difficult fortress for any club to venture into. Where Levante have remained unbeaten there since the Yellow Submarine managed to narrowly defeat them by a solitary goal as far back as February. With head coach Luis Castro continuing to cultivate this resistance by obtaining five points through an incredible victory against Real Betis and two draws against Osasuna and, most recently, Málaga, where their defensive unit and key Aussie international keeper, Mathew Ryan,…
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Comments
P.S. Sabías que el gran Johan Cruijff una vez también jugó para el Levante? El 1 de Marzo de 1981 debutó con los Granotes en Segunda División contra el Palencia. Ahí tendría una breve y desafortunada etapa, en la que apareció en 10 partidos y solo anotó dos veces.
In the end, this was far from a pretty match, and judging by the direction it was heading in those frantic final minutes, it could very easily have become a major disaster had it not been for the brilliance of our brilliant signing and great individual performance from the likes of Lamine and Rapha.
@geo Where, our perfect record remains intact, the Barça Boys remain perched atop the league, and despite the chaos witnessed in Valencia, the defending champions continue to look like the heavy favourites to lift this prized title once more.
However, in the dying embers of the game, the german international road runner, Adeyemi, would pick up the ball near the halfway line and simply took off in his own initiative to finished the job. Gliding past one, jumping over the two, and finally burying the decisive goal behind the three. Extinguishing whatever hope remained inside the hostile environment La Blagranas was venturing into.
@geo It was a breathtaking performance that soothed the nerves of millions of Culés and perhaps more importantly, those of Maestro Hansi Flick, that once can imagine would spare him from the "stern conversation" he will have with the players. For it is clearly evident that they are barring issues with our defense, as usual,…
@geo and numerous of player have shown subpar and inexcusable behaviors that could of and have altered the match in the opposition favour. Nonetheless, perhaps that alone paints the clearest picture of just how extraordinary this Barça side has been: arguably their worst performance of the campaign still ended in a 4–2 victory against a club notoriously difficult to break down, especially for us.
@geo Five matches, five victories, 15 points from a possible 15, and an astonishing 19 goals scored. That is what our level now resides and any form that fall short of it are not tolerated.
Regardless, the second half commenced with the referee finally regaining his eyesight, as Lamine won a penalty after a Levante player foolishly stuck out his arm and handled the ball inside the box. In which, the Star Boy stepped up himself and, with the same confidence that has come to define him, buried it deep into the back of the net to seemingly put Barça beyond reach.
@geo Unfortunately, that would prove to be futile, as what followed was an increasingly uncomfortable display from the league leaders where the warning signs had been steadily mounting. Barça’s backline was relentlessly threatened and repeatedly stretched apart, before the prolific Iván Romero finally pulled one back for the Granotes after a horrendous pass from Espart gifted Levante the opening they had been desperately searching for.
@geo That growing sense of danger emerged once more in the final minutes of the regular 90, when Levante captain Roger Brugué came charging forward, sprinting his way into the box before clashing with the towering and rather clumsy Bernal and leaving Joan sprawled across the turf.
@geo What had begun as another commanding performance from Barça had gradually descended into a complete mess, with the match slipping further and further from their control and replaced by complacency, defensive fragility, and the return of the dreaded teal-kit curse.
As Levante attempted to settle into their structure and make the opening minutes as incredibly frustrating as possible for Barça, a ping-pong sequence sent the ball ricocheting straight into their box, where it eventually found the boots of Rapha. With remarkable composure amid the chaos, he calmly laid it off for Espart,….
@geo who tucked it away to score his first of, hopefully, many goals in the Blaugrana colours. Eventually, another dreadful passage of play from the Granotes allowed Fermín to burst forward with a wonderful run before launching a brilliant long pass toward Spidey Rapha.
@geo Once again, the Brasilian turned provider, this time setting up the Star Boy in the 19th minute to further punish a Levante side that was already beginning to unravel. Now, Barça were running riot, producing yet another dominant performance as Levante seemingly found no answer beyond resorting to reckless fouls in a desperate attempt to halt their force.
@geo Gerald Maldini was elbowed, Espart practically put his life on the line to prevent Levante from barging straight through, and Pedri was getting absolutely bitched around the pitch. It was an ugly sight, made even more infuriating by the referee seemingly turning a blind eye to all these fouls from the influence of Levante's crowd.
@geo By the time the first half concluded, Levante’s approach had descended into something resembling the brutish, primitive football of a caveman league. The sort of prehistoric spectacle one might expect from the English pitches.
repeatedly rescued Los Azulgrana, including an early penalty save. Only succumbing one sole defeat against Espanyol in their inaugural match of the campaign. Now, following the mixed results that have characterized the commencement of their season, Castro and Roger Brugué, who captains the Granotes 🐸, face one of their most daunting and dangerous tasks yet:
@geo somehow finding a way to halt Barça’s relentless momentum, which only seems to intensify with every passing match under the guidance of the German Maestro, Hansi Flick.