barcelona-rayo vallecano (homenaje de tito vilanova)
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
BARCELONA  Valdes Alves, Puyol, Mascherano, Abidal Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta Messi, Cesc, Villa | LEVANTE  Munua Venta, Ballesteros, Lopez, Del Horno Valdo, Torres, Farinos, Juanlu Vicente Kone |
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has a few injury problems going in to the match against Levante. Ibrahim Afellay is still sidelined and will be out for the foreseeable future after injuring his knee ligaments earlier in the season.
Brazilian full-back Adriano is also missing for the Catalan giants after pulling a hamstring in the midweek victory over Rayo Vallecano, and will also miss the Champions League match against BATE Borisov next week. Gerard Pique, meanwhile, picked up a yellow card in the match against Rayo, and so the Barca defender will be suspended.
Levante have a few injury issues of their own. On Thursday, defender Nano trained apart from his team-mates as he battles to recover from the ankle injury he suffered in the latter part of the victory over Sporting.
Manager Juan Ignacio Martinez is also sweating over the fitness of winger Juanlu, who exercised at a lower intensity on Thursday as he aims to shake off an injury to his right leg. However, it looks likely that he will make the grade against Barcelona. Jose Barkero misses the game as he serves a suspension.
| DID YOU KNOW |
The last match between Barcelona and Levante ended in a 1-1 draw in La Liga at the end of last season.
- Barcelona have scored nearly double the amount of goals that Levante have notched up in the league this season, with 42 to 23.
- Barca have scored 34 goals at Camp Nou in the Spanish Primera Division this season, without reply.
- If Levante manage to win the match at Camp Nou, they will go just two points behind Barcelona in La Liga.
- Levante's top goalscorer this season is winger Juanlu, who has notched up six goals in 11 appearances.
- Prior to Levante's 4-0 win over Sporting last weekend, Juan Ignacio Martinez's side had lost three games on the bounce, which included losses against Valencia and Atletico Madrid.
Levante have acquitted themselves superbly so far this season, with their veteran heads and workmanlike performances grinding out points. However, they come to Camp Nou with Barcelona having scored 34 goals at home in the league this season, and conceded none. It is difficult to envisage any other outcome than a victory for Pep Guardiola's side.
Editor's Prediction
Barcelona 2-0 Levante 
