Barcelona will take on Levante on Saturday night knowing that they are just a win away from being crowned the La Liga champions for a second consecutive season.
Barcelona will be aiming to complete another La Liga title triumph when they face off against 15th-placed Levante at Camp Nou on Saturday night.
With just four matches left to be played in the season, Barcelona have a nine-point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid and need to match their result against Real Valladolid on Saturday to be crowned La Liga champions.
Ahead of the game, Barcelona have no major injury concerns to contend with, apart from long-term absentee Rafinha Alcantara. However, manager Ernesto Valverde could decide to rotate his troops keeping in mind the all-important UEFA Champions League semi-final clash against Liverpool.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Valverde said (h/t Barca Blaugranes), “It’s possible there will be one or two changes. But we have four days until the game against Liverpool and winning tomorrow, for what it signifies, is something powerful ahead of Wednesday. They [Liverpool] have one more day of rest, so we could give one or two players a rest.”
No changes are expected in goal, where Marc-Andre ter Stegen is the undisputed first-choice for the reigning champions. There could be a few tweaks in defence though, with Jordi Alba likely to return at left-back, after being benched for the last game. Nelson Semedo should feature as the right-sided full-back ahead of Sergi Roberto.
Gerard Pique could be given some rest by the manager ahead of the Liverpool game. That would mean the French centre-back duo of Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti are in line to feature against Levante on Saturday.
Ivan Rakitic did not start in the midweek clash against Levante, but is set for a starting berth this weekend. The Croatian international is likely to take up the deepest slot in the middle of the park, allowing Sergio Busquets to get a valuable rest ahead of the Champions League semi-final first leg against Liverpool.
On either side of Rakitic, no changes are expected with Arturo Vidal and Carles Alena, both of whom impressed in the win against Alaves earlier this week, likely to hold on to their places in the lineup.
Lionel Messi was absent from the starting XI against Alaves during the week. But, with Barcelona on the cusp of another title victory, the club captain should be handed a start by manager Valverde on Saturday night.
Ousmane Dembele should start out on the left flank, as he continues to rediscover his form post his return from injury. Luis Suarez was on the scoresheet against Alaves during the week and should continue to feature as the lone striker for Barcelona against Levante.
