Levante 0-5 Barcelona: 3 reasons why Barca beat Levante | LaLiga 2018-19

#2 Valverde's perfect experiment

The experiment gave some good inference for matches to come

Fielding three center backs, with the two left-footed, Vermaelen and Lenglet, and Pique as a right wing-back, is a real gamble. But doing that at a time when players are in fine shape is a good thing as well.

Playing other midfielders who can compensate for Pique’s lack of pace turned out to be a peach of a decision. Despite being caught on the break a couple of times, the experiment gave some good inference for matches to come.

The reason for mentioning this experiment is because it rested the apparently overused Semedo. Nevertheless, it had no compromise in the quality, and ensured a typical Barcelona game play.

Taking off Vermaelen in the second half to ensure perfect play time split between the unused players proved to be another masterstroke, as it reaped them one goal through Pique and also tidy squad rotation, the Barca manager’s decision was one of the instrumental reasons for the win.