Barcelona endured a difficult opening half-hour against Levante, falling behind when their opponents doubled the advantage from the penalty spot. With his side two goals down, head coach Hansi Flick opted to alter his approach at the interval.
Marcus Rashford, who is currently on loan from Manchester United, was withdrawn at half-time and replaced by Dani Olmo. The change allowed Raphinha to be repositioned to his natural wide role, giving the Catalan side greater attacking balance heading into the second period.
Turning the game around
The reshuffle had an immediate impact. Pedri struck soon after the restart to reduce the deficit, before Ferran Torres found the equalizer. Barcelona completed the comeback deep into stoppage time when Unai Elgezabal put through his own net, securing a dramatic victory.
Reflecting on his decisions after the final whistle, Flick told reporters: “Marcus had a few chances in the first half and showed he can help us. In the second half, we needed to make changes, and we put Raphinha on the wing. I think they were the right changes to make. The first goal after the break changed the game.”
Rashford’s position and upcoming fixtures
Rashford’s temporary switch from Manchester United had been viewed as an opportunity for him to regain form after a challenging period in England. Flick’s decision to start him in such a demanding match underlined confidence in his abilities, but being substituted at the break also demonstrated the fierce competition for attacking places within the Barcelona squad.
With Ferran Torres, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, and Robert Lewandowski also competing for forward roles, Rashford faces a difficult battle to secure regular minutes. The return of Lewandowski following a pre-season injury adds further pressure on the available spots.
Barcelona now prepare for a challenging away fixture against Rayo Vallecano on August 31, the last game before the international break. Rashford will aim to make an impression in training in order to push for inclusion, while Flick must weigh his attacking options carefully for the trip to Vallecas.
