Winter holidays are over in La Liga and league leaders Barcelona have a tricky task at home to struggling side Levante. Pep Guardiola wants his team to kick-start 2011 on a high by avoiding complacency.
“2010 was a great year. We hope that this one will be great as well and that the people will feel happy,” the Barcelona boss told reporters ahead of his team’s first encounter in 2011.
The defending La Liga champions could open a five-point lead at the top of the standings above closest rivals Real Madrid. On paper, the Catalans are largely the favourites to come on top in the Barcelona vs Levante match. However, Coach Guardiola has reminded his squad not to lean on such analysis.
“After holidays, there is always a risk. I can remember how it was in previous years against Mallorca and Villarreal.
“But the good thing is that I’ve had time to study the opposition. And I don’t think they [Levante] are a team get relegated because they’ve had some good results on home soil.”
In fact, Levante are sixteenth in La Liga and yet to overturn an awful result of eleven goals conceded in their last three matches – the last of those being a heavy Copa del Rey loss to Real Madrid in late December.
On the contrary, Barcelona are enjoying a completely different run than Levante’s as they’ve allowed only one goal in their last six domestic games. But after drawing 0-0 at home to Athletic Bilbao in a meeting which marked their last fixture of the year 2010, Pep Guardiola prefers not to see Barcelona relax in a confident mood ahead of Sunday night’s encounter against Levante.
“We would be wrong to think that it will be easy to play Levante just because they lost 8-0 to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey.
“That was a different competition. Also, I guess they have forgotten that defeat. Besides, we have to be careful with any team that comes at the Camp Nou.”
Pep Guardiola closed on this matter by making a public wish for the year 2011 to start on a bright note for Barcelona. In his declaration, he stated:
“I would like everyone near Barcelona to come and support us [against Levante] because we need to get back into our rhythm. And when fans are behind us, it’s always easier.”
The defending La Liga champions could open a five-point lead at the top of the standings above closest rivals Real Madrid. On paper, the Catalans are largely the favourites to come on top in the Barcelona vs Levante match. However, Coach Guardiola has reminded his squad not to lean on such analysis.
“After holidays, there is always a risk. I can remember how it was in previous years against Mallorca and Villarreal.
“But the good thing is that I’ve had time to study the opposition. And I don’t think they [Levante] are a team get relegated because they’ve had some good results on home soil.”
In fact, Levante are sixteenth in La Liga and yet to overturn an awful result of eleven goals conceded in their last three matches – the last of those being a heavy Copa del Rey loss to Real Madrid in late December.
On the contrary, Barcelona are enjoying a completely different run than Levante’s as they’ve allowed only one goal in their last six domestic games. But after drawing 0-0 at home to Athletic Bilbao in a meeting which marked their last fixture of the year 2010, Pep Guardiola prefers not to see Barcelona relax in a confident mood ahead of Sunday night’s encounter against Levante.
“We would be wrong to think that it will be easy to play Levante just because they lost 8-0 to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey.
“That was a different competition. Also, I guess they have forgotten that defeat. Besides, we have to be careful with any team that comes at the Camp Nou.”
Pep Guardiola closed on this matter by making a public wish for the year 2011 to start on a bright note for Barcelona. In his declaration, he stated:
“I would like everyone near Barcelona to come and support us [against Levante] because we need to get back into our rhythm. And when fans are behind us, it’s always easier.”
