Levante of Spain winger, Moses Simon has been tipped to again start down the right flank against Barcelona in Thursday’s Copa del Rey second leg fixture.
Sports247.ng reports that, although Simon was benched for all 90 minutes of last weekend’s La Liga fixture, it might have been a ploy to keep him fresh for Thursday’s Cup fixture.
Consequently, forecasts ahead of the game at Camp Nou have tipped the former SK Trencin of Slovakia and KAA Gent of Belgium dazzler looking good to go for another shot at Barca, who he helped Levante beat 2-1 in the first leg last week.
At 2-0, Levante would have really fancied their chances, but Philippe Coutinho’s late penalty was a real hammer blow.
Yet it is still to the advantage of Levante in this last-16 tie, as Simon and his pals from the Valencia-based side put in a fine performance on home soil, which they will aim to replicate in Catalonia on Thursday.
Promoted from the Segunda Division as winners in 2017, Levante earned another season in La Liga by finishing 15th in the top flight last term.
The Frogs have now been present in eight of the last nine Liga campaigns and will be looking to secure another season of top-flight action.
It will not come as a surprise to learn that Levante have never won the Copa, while they have not been past the quarter-finals since 1935.
Lopez’s team beat Lugo in the round of 32 to progress to this stage and would have wanted to have avoided the holders at this early point.
A preview of the match read in part: “On-loan Real Madrid forward Borja Mayoral was excellent in the first leg last week and the Spaniard should continue in attack.
“Emmanuel Boateng also impressed in the first leg and should start, with Moses Simon and Aitor Fernandez also earning spots in the XI.
“Coke and Ruben Rochina both came off the bench against Atletico at the weekend, but the pair should return for this match.
“Head coach Lopez also has a decision to make over the involvement of star player Jose Luis Morales, who started on the bench in the first leg.”
