Barcelona host Levante at Camp Nou this afternoon in another crucial game for Ronald Koeman. The Dutchman is under serious pressure at Barcelona, at war with Joan Laporta and unable to build a coherent team that can fulfil the expectations that are part and parcel of a club as huge as Barcelona. Levante, who have a fondness for going toe-to-toe with La Liga’s biggest clubs, will pose a real challenge even through they’ve started slowly.
𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 ☀️ #BarçaLevante pic.twitter.com/lUCLBBGYKC
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 26, 2021
Barcelona went into the game sitting in eighth place, four points off Real Sociedad and a Champions League place and nine off league leaders Real Madrid. Levante were 16th, just a point clear of Granada and the dreaded relegation zone. Barcelona are yet to win in September; they took a beating off Bayern Munich in the Champions League and drew with both Granada and Cadiz.
They got off to a good start against Levante, however, taking the lead in the seventh minute through Memphis Depay. The Dutchman – very much Koeman’s man – won a penalty kick and then converted it himself to settle the nerves and put Barcelona ahead. Luuk de Jong, his countryman and also very much a Koeman signing, then doubled their lead in the 14th minute. It was his first goal since joining the club from Sevilla this summer.
Gavi doesn't care about systems and ideal positions and all that stuff, he just plays football. And it's beautiful to see.
— Captn ⚽ (@CaptnGuardiola) September 26, 2021
Gavi, who was given his second start for the club by Koeman in midfield beside Nico Gonzalez and Sergio Busquets, drew rave reviews on social media due to his maturity and competence. Born in Seville, the 17-year-old joined Barcelona from Real Betis in 2015 and has been identified as one of the jewels of La Masia.
