Eric, Bernal start in a 4-2-3-1: How Barcelona can line up against Levante | OneFootball

FC Barcelona will be gunning for their sixth straight victory this season when they take on Levante in La Liga on Sunday.

The Blaugrana came into the matchday as La Liga leaders, after having won each of their four games in the competition so far, scoring 17 and conceding only two goals.

They built on their exceptional start with a 5-1 thrashing of Feyenoord in their UEFA Champions League opener on Wednesday night.

Given their splendid form so far, Barça go into the game as overwhelming favourites. Their opponents, Levante are in the bottom half of the table with five points from four games so far.

They have not lost any of their previous three matches, drawing against Osasuna and Malaga on either side of a 5-2 victory over Real Betis.

Playing in front of their home crowd, Levante will put up a fight, and Barça will do well to guard against complacency at the Ciutat de Valencia.

With games coming thick and fast, manager Hansi Flick could make some rotations and here’s how he is likely to set up his Barcelona team against Levante.

Defence

Eric Garcia is back in the squad and available for the game after missing the Feyenoord clash due to suspension.

Eric Garcia is back and will start. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The World Cup winner is expected to start at right-back with a protective face mask after suffering a nasal fracture during Barcelona’s last league game against Valencia.

Meanwhile, Gerard Martin could make his way back into the lineup at centre-back, replacing Andreas Christensen as Pau Cubarsi’s partner.

Xavi Espart has excelled in a makeshift role at left-back so far this season and could be in line for a return to the team after Joao Cancelo got the nod in midweek. It would also mean that Alejandro Balde’s wait for his first appearance continues.

Midfield

Marc Bernal has seen a drop in his minutes in recent games, with Hansi Flick relying heavily on new signing Rodri.

But, the La Masia graduate could get back into the team tomorrow against Levante in place of the World Cup winner as part of the manager’s planned rotation.

Bernal will likely partner up with Pedri in the double pivot for Barcelona, with the Spanish international set to be key once again after a masterful display in the midweek Champions League fixture.

Bernal to return to the lineup? (Photo by Francisco Macia/Getty Images)

Moving further up the pitch, Fermin Lopez, who has been among the goals early into the season, should reclaim his spot as the attacking midfielder from Dani Olmo, who had a quiet outing against Feyenoord.

Attack

Lamine Yamal has hit his strides after a quiet start and will once again be a key driving force for Barcelona in attack from the right flank.

Meanwhile, club captain Raphinha, who has eight goals already in only five games across all competitions, is expected to continue as the team’s centre-forward once more.

On the left side, Flick could make a change and reinstate Anthony Gordon, which would mean Karim Adeyemi misses out despite scoring a wonderful goal against Feyenoord this week.

Depending on the game-state, teenage striker Hamza Abdelkarim, who has agreed a new contract with Barça, could get some minutes off the bench.