Levante vs. Barcelona: Key Issues That Will Shape La Liga Game
Levante take on Barcelona with both at opposite ends of the table and enjoying vastly differing fortunes.
Barca sit proudly atop La Liga having won all three games, while Levante prop up the rest of the table by virtue of their taking only a solitary point from a possible nine.
The history books remain firmly stacked in favour of Luis Enrique's side, too, Fussball Wettpoint noting that Levante's only win in almost 11 years coming in the Copa del Rey in January 2004.
Let's take a look at what is likely to decide the game...
Differing Fortunes in Front of Goal
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The gulf in class between the two sides is evident as soon as you glance at the La Liga table, and not just because of the respective positions of the teams.
When Neymar bagged a brace against a stubborn Athletic Bilbao side, it was Barca's fifth and six goals of an immaculate start to the season. A season in which they've yet to concede.
Compare that to the home side who have let in five in the same time period but haven't registered at the right end.
If Barca's strike-force on are form it could be as embarrassing as the 7-0 opening day victory from last season.
Formations
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It's highly unlikely that Jose Luis Mendilibar's side will adopt another attacking 4-2-3-1 formation against the league leaders.
Barcelona have the personnel to render such a formation useless and it would be akin to professional suicide from Mendilibar if he were to even tinker in this area.
A far more defensive 4-5-1 could strangle the life out of this game, which won't make for a pretty spectacle, but in so-doing, the home side could well spring a massive surprise.
Barcelona have always struggled against teams that set up well defensively, even when playing in their usual 4-3-3 formation.
There is simply no room to manoeuvre between the lines before being crowded out.
A change of tack from Luis Enrique could well pay dividends if Levante try to win ugly.
Width
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Both Jordi Alba and, if fit, Dani Alves, have a huge part to play in this game.
Much of Barcelona's game is based on making the pitch as big as possible and using the width as often as practicable.
Pedro Lopez and Tono are therefore in for a torrid 90 minutes if they continue to show both speed merchants down the line, allowing them to rein in cross after cross.
Levante are likely to hold out for far longer if the channels are well patrolled, forcing both Alba and Alves inside where they can be dealt with by Victor Camarasa and the robust brick wall that is Loukas Vyntra.
Mesmerising Messi
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As Lionel Messi showed back in January against the same opposition, he can be just as dangerous and effective when not scoring.
That night the Argentine didn't register on the scoresheet, but he did provide four assists in a single game for the first time in his Barca career, per 101 Great Goals.
It should come as no surprise whatsoever that he has already hit the ground running this season with two goals and two assists in La Liga, per WhoScored.com.
It's readily apparent that Messi is enjoying his football again, and that's a frightening prospect for any team, let alone one that is rock bottom and without a goal to their name.
Barca's Team Selection
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There is much stock in always playing your best team until a game is won.
However, in this day and age, rotation is a common theme for the more successful teams. Indeed, it becomes something of a necessity.
With Champions League group matches beginning again, Luis Enrique might look to games such as this as the perfect opportunity to give squad members a run out and allow some regular first-teamers to recharge their batteries.
But why upset the equilibrium of a team that has had a perfect start so far?
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