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Neymar and Pedro played as an orthodox front two with Lionel Messi in devastating form in a free role just behind. Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitić and Andrés Iniesta resumed their places in midfield after being rested, with Busquets playing his usual anchoring role while Rakitić and Iniesta acted as mediating presences, keeping passing moves ticking over while supporting Dani Alves and Jordi Alba as the hyperactive wing-backs provided width and bombed forward.
Neymar and Pedro played as an orthodox front two with Lionel Messi in devastating form in a free role just behind. Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitić and Andrés Iniesta resumed their places in midfield after being rested, with Busquets playing his usual anchoring role while Rakitić and Iniesta acted as mediating presences, keeping passing moves ticking over while supporting Dani Alves and Jordi Alba as the hyperactive wing-backs provided width and bombed forward.
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While they had eleven men, José Luis Mendilibar’s Levante sat deep in a 4-3-3 which at times became a 4-4-2 or, occasionally and rather oddly, a 4-2-4. Their midfield three tried to close off the central zones to prevent forward passes into Barça’s forwards, but this meant that Dani Alves and Jordi Alba were almost always in acres of space and they were heavily involved in Barça’s attacking play throughout the game.
In contrast to the game against APOEL, Luis Enrique’s team made a very fast start, immediately looking to move the ball forward, seizing on Levante’s passes out of defence and applying intense pressure in midfield. This approach was maintained throughout and it was no surprise that four of the five goals came as a result of fast breaks at transitions. Barça’s superiority was immediately clear and it only became greater as the match progressed. Despite seeming to have a good defensive shape, Levante were actually very open and Barça continually found it very easy to move the ball into dangerous areas.
While they had eleven men, José Luis Mendilibar’s Levante sat deep in a 4-3-3 which at times became a 4-4-2 or, occasionally and rather oddly, a 4-2-4. Their midfield three tried to close off the central zones to prevent forward passes into Barça’s forwards, but this meant that Dani Alves and Jordi Alba were almost always in acres of space and they were heavily involved in Barça’s attacking play throughout the game.
In contrast to the game against APOEL, Luis Enrique’s team made a very fast start, immediately looking to move the ball forward, seizing on Levante’s passes out of defence and applying intense pressure in midfield. This approach was maintained throughout and it was no surprise that four of the five goals came as a result of fast breaks at transitions. Barça’s superiority was immediately clear and it only became greater as the match progressed. Despite seeming to have a good defensive shape, Levante were actually very open and Barça continually found it very easy to move the ball into dangerous areas.