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Tri-centenary man Messi to lead from the front as Barca entertain struggling Levante

Xinhua, February 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

FC Barcelona should have few problems on Sunday when they entertain struggling Levante in the Camp Nou Stadium aiming to maintain their impressive current run of form.

After defeat away to Real Sociedad in the first weekend of January, Barca have been virtually unstoppable, sweeping all before them in both the BBVA Primera Liga and also the Kings Cup.

Luis Enrique were especially impressive over the last week, producing arguably their best display of the season to win 5-2 in Bilbao last Sunday and then beating Villarreal 3-1 in their King's Cup semi-final on Wednesday.

One of the reasons for that upturn in form has been that coach Luis Enrique has limited his squad rotations, making changes on a game by game basis in order to preserve the legs of key players, but resisting the temptation to make wholesale changes, which prevented the team picking up rhythm at the start of the year.

Another factor is the form of attacking trip Neymar, Luis Suarez and Leo Messi. Neymar appears totally unaffected by the controversy raging over his signing for the club, while Suarez has settled in an Messi is approaching his unstoppable best.

The Argentinean will make his 300th league appearance for Barca on Sunday and he does so looking to add to his impressive scoring record in recent weeks. Messi has found the target in Barcelona's last 10 home games.

He along with goalkeeper, Claudio Bravo is the only player to have figured in all of Barca's league matches this season and Bravo will return to the side after being rested in the Cup during the week.

Levante travel to Barcelona buoyed by an impressive 4-1 win at home to Malaga last weekend. The side coached by the experienced Lucas Alcaraz had gone into that game bottom of the table, but produced their best performance of the season against a rival aiming to qualify for Europe.

Striker David Barral netted a hat-trick in that game, but with Barca at their best, it is hard to imagine another upset on Sunday as Barca continue their quest for the league title. Endit