Levante vs Valencia: Preview, Team News & Predicted Lineups | La Liga

Valencia travels to face Levante this Sunday in a vital La Liga derby with both teams battling to avoid relegation. Los Che currently sit just one point above the drop zone, while Levante remain five points adrift, making this match a potentially decisive encounter for both sides. The stakes are high as both clubs look to secure crucial points in their fight for survival in Spain’s top flight.

The match, scheduled for a 17:30 UTC kickoff at Ciudad de Valencia stadium, pits a Valencia side struggling for consistency against a Levante team desperate for a home win. Valencia’s recent form has been patchy, and a defeat could see them slide into the relegation places, while Levante grasp a victory is essential to close the gap on their rivals. The historical head-to-head favors Valencia with 20 wins to Levante’s nine in 39 matches, but recent encounters have been closely contested. Sofascore provides live updates and detailed match statistics.

Levante enters the match following a 4-2 defeat to Athletic Bilbao, despite having secured four points in the two games prior against Elche and Atletico Madrid. Their home form has been particularly concerning, having only collected seven points from ten league matches at the Ciudad de Valencia, the worst record in the division. Defensive vulnerabilities have plagued The Frogs, conceding 38 goals in 22 matches – a joint-worst record alongside Sevilla.

Team News and Expected Lineups

Levante will be without Victor Garcia and Roger Brugue due to injury, and Jeremy Toljan is suspended following a milestone yellow card accumulation. Alan Matturro is also serving a suspension, but Matias Moreno is expected to recover from a head injury and feature in the starting lineup. Etta Eyong, whose future at the club is subject to speculation, is anticipated to lead the attack.

Levante possible starting lineup: Ryan. Moreno, Dela, Elgezabal, Sanchez; Andres, Raghouber; Tunde, Alvarez, Romero; Eyong

Valencia, meanwhile, will have Iker Cordoba and Cristian Rivero available after serving suspensions, but Jose Copete is now banned due to yellow card accumulation. Arnaut Danjuma and Mouctar Diakhaby remain sidelined with injuries, and Dimitri Foulquier faces a late fitness test. Hugo Duro and Lucas Beltran are expected to spearhead the attack, with Javi Guerra potentially starting on the wing in Danjuma’s absence.

Valencia possible starting lineup: Dimitrievski; Correia, Comert, Nunez, Gaya; Rioja, Pepelu, Ugrinic, Guerra; Duro, Beltran

Derby History and Recent Form

Valencia secured a 1-0 victory over Levante in the reverse fixture earlier this season. Historically, the Valencia derby has been a closely fought affair, with 10 draws in the 39 meetings between the two sides. Marca reports that Levante has only won one of their last 11 La Liga matches against Valencia (4 draws, 6 losses), with their last victory coming in March 2021.

Recent form paints a concerning picture for both teams. Levante’s La Liga form reads WDLWDL, while Valencia’s is LDWWLL. Valencia’s form across all competitions is WWWLLL, highlighting their inconsistency.

What to Watch For

The midfield battle will be crucial, with Valencia’s Pepelu and Levante’s Andres likely to play key roles in dictating the tempo of the game. Both teams will demand to improve their defensive solidity to avoid conceding costly goals. The outcome of this match could have significant implications for both clubs’ relegation prospects, and a tense, hard-fought encounter is expected.

The result of this Valencia derby will be pivotal as both teams strive to escape the relegation battle. Fans can follow live text commentary and match stats from the game on BBC Sport.

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