Barcelona’s Thrilling Comeback Against Levante
In a thrilling encounter in LaLiga, Barcelona showcased their resilience by overturning a 2-0 deficit to defeat Levante 3-2 at the Ciutat de Valencia on Saturday. The decisive victory can largely be credited to Hansi Flick’s shrewd tactical modifications during the halftime break.
First Half Struggles
Summer signing Marcus Rashford was given his first start but was replaced after an unproductive first half that saw Levante take control through goals from Iván Romero and a penalty by José Luis Morales.
Flick had made adjustments to the team composition prior to kickoff, positioning Raphinha in a central role and introducing Marc Casadó alongside Pedri, due to Frenkie de Jong’s absence. However, it was at halftime that the real turnaround commenced.
Halftime Adjustments
With the team trailing by two goals, Flick brought on Dani Olmo and Gavi, reverting to a lineup more aligned with traditional Barcelona tactics.
Praising Flick’s adjustments, Ferran Torres highlighted the importance of the tactical tweaks and the emphasis placed on demonstrating the team’s competitive spirit. “[Flick] gave us a couple of tactical tweaks [at half-time] because we weren’t well-positioned. And, most importantly, he said that we had to show our character, that winning gene we have. We came out well and were effective,” Torres stated post-match.
Second Half Comeback
The second half proved to be a different story for Barcelona, as they quickly leveled the score with goals from Pedri and Torres. The dramatic comeback culminated in a last-minute own goal by Unai Elgezabal, who inadvertently directed the ball into his own net after an impressive right-wing run by Lamine Yamal.
Looking Ahead
Despite securing the win and starting the season with two consecutive victories, Flick acknowledged the squad’s defensive shortcomings, particularly their vulnerability to counterattacks which Levante exploited effectively. He noted, “Levante defend really good, they have really fast players, the transitions they make, it was not easy to defend when you make mistakes.”
Looking ahead, Flick emphasized the need for improvement as Barcelona prepares to face Rayo Vallecano in their next fixture. He concluded that such matches provide valuable opportunities for growth, saying, “Of course I feel proud [of the comeback], but this is what we have to make better. We were not perfect today, but I think also it’s a big compliment to Levante. We will speak about everything, analyze everything. Every match is always to improve. We have to make it better. This match helps us do that.”
