Watch: Levante honour Barcelona’s World Cup winners before kick-off
Levante paid tribute to Barcelona’s World Cup-winning contingent before the two sides met at the Ciutat de Valencia, putting club rivalries aside to celebrate the players who had helped Spain lift the biggest prize in international football.
Levante organised a special guard of honour for Barcelona’s international stars, following the example set by Elche earlier in the season.
The gesture offered a warm reception for the visiting players before attention turned to the evening’s La Liga contest.
As the Barcelona squad came out for their warm-up and the pre-match protocol got underway, the home crowd responded with a sustained standing ovation.
The tribute was a recognition of the contribution made by the Barcelona players to Spain’s World Cup triumph.
Levante president Pablo Sanchez Morante personally led the ceremony on the pitch, presenting each of the eight Barcelona players with a personalised piece of local craftsmanship.
The gifts were prepared specifically to commemorate their status as world champions, giving the occasion a distinctly local touch.
Each player was called forward to receive their memento as the Levante supporters continued to applaud.
Notably, the group included the likes of Rodri, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Dani Olmo, Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia and Gavi.
The ceremony provided a reminder of the strength of Barcelona’s international contingent, but Hansi Flick had little interest in allowing the occasion to distract from the task ahead.
The result ultimately gave the evening a familiar outcome for Flick’s side: recognition before kick-off, followed by another important three points once the football began.
The four-goal performance allowed Flick’s team to maintain their momentum at the summit while the home club’s tribute provided one of the more memorable moments before the action got underway.
