Stats: Hansi Flick has reasons to worry as Barcelona’s record at Levante is a cause for concern | OneFootball

Barcelona began their La Liga 2025/26 season with a convincing 3-0 victory over Mallorca, but Hansi Flick was not fully satisfied with the overall team performance.

While the three points were secured, the German coach knows his side will need to step up their collective game if they are to maintain momentum in the weeks ahead.

The focus now shifts to the second league fixture of the campaign, which is an away clash against Levante this Saturday, August 23.

The trip to the Ciutat de Valencia is not one Barcelona will take lightly, as history suggests this stadium has been a problematic venue for the Blaugrana in recent years.

Levante’s stadium – A difficult ground for Barcelona

On paper, Barcelona’s record against Levante is strong, with only three defeats in 32 La Liga meetings. However, a closer look at their recent visits to the Ciutat de Valencia tells a very different story.

Since 2018, the Catalans have managed just two wins there, suffering three defeats and one draw in the process.

Levante’s relegation in 2022 temporarily removed one of Barça’s trickiest away fixtures, but now that they are back, Flick and his men face what many consider a potential trap match.

A look at the record

The last encounter between the two sides dates back to April 2022, when Xavi Hernández’s Barcelona came from behind to secure a 3-2 win.

A year earlier, under Ronald Koeman, Barça were held to a frustrating 3-3 draw at the same ground.

Ernesto Valverde’s record in Valencia was even worse, as in four visits, his team suffered three defeats, including the infamous 4-5 loss in May 2018 that ended Barcelona’s 43-match unbeaten league run.

Although Barça returned later that year with a 5-0 win, the ground’s reputation as a “cursed” venue for the club was only strengthened by another loss in November 2019, when Levante triumphed 3-1.

This backdrop makes Saturday’s game a real test for Flick’s Barcelona. Despite the strong start to the season, the Ciutat de Valencia remains a stadium where the Blaugrana cannot afford to take anything for granted.