Levante UD vs FC Barcelona

Levante host Barcelona at the Ciudad de Valencia in matchday five, and it already looks like a measuring stick for both sides' start to the season. Barcelona sit joint top with Real Madrid after three straight wins, while Levante are ninth with four points from three games, still hunting the form that eased their relegation worries last term. Levante opened with a loss at Espanyol and a goalless draw at Osasuna before thrashing Real Betis 5-2, with Roger Brugué scoring twice. Barcelona have been ruthless, beating Elche 5-0, Athletic Club 2-0 and Rayo Vallecano 5-2, with Lamine Yamal reaching his 50th club goal and new signing Rodri making his debut off the bench. Historically this fixture is one-sided: Barcelona have won 34 of 47 meetings, including a 3-0 win in February, while Levante's last victory over the Catalans dates back to 2019. Our prediction: 1-3