Levante vs Real Oviedo – News and Probable Lineups

On Saturday evening, two teams entrenched in the relegation fight will meet at the Ciutat de Valencia, with Levante taking on Real Oviedo in a key La Liga match.

Both sides are currently struggling at the bottom of the table, and this game may prove crucial in determining their chances of avoiding relegation as the season draws to a close.

Match overview

Levante’s return to La Liga has not unfolded as anticipated, and the Frogs find themselves facing the prospect of an immediate reversion to the Segunda Division.

After gaining promotion last season, expectations were cautiously hopeful, but a string of poor results has left them in significant difficulty.

The choice to part ways with Julian Calero, who led them to promotion, followed a sequence of four straight defeats, and although Luis Castro was brought in during December, performances have not shown marked improvement.

Currently, Levante is positioned 19th in the league, with only five victories from 28 matches, coupled with eight draws and 15 losses.

Nonetheless, there have been some positive signs recently, as the hosts remain unbeaten in their last three fixtures, with a 2-0 win against Alaves along with draws against Girona and Rayo Vallecano.

Despite this slight uplift in form, defensive weaknesses still pose a significant concern, with the Frogs having conceded 46 goals this season – among the worst records in the league.

They will however draw confidence from their earlier encounter, where they achieved a 2-0 victory over Real Oviedo away in October.

Similarly, Real Oviedo is enduring a challenging season and remains firmly situated in the relegation area.

The Blues occupy the last position in the league, ranked 20th, having managed only four wins, nine draws, and 15 losses from their 28 matches.

A persistent issue for Oviedo has been their struggles in front of goal, managing to score a mere 18 times this season – the lowest in the league.

However, they approach this fixture following a crucial 1-0 win over Valencia, which could serve as a foundation for a late-season survival effort.

Guillermo Almada’s team is currently seven points from safety, and although survival is theoretically achievable, a strong finish to the campaign is essential.

This season has also been complicated by managerial instability, as Oviedo is on their third head coach after they parted ways with Veljko Paunovic early in the season and dismissed Luis Carrion in December.

Encounters between these teams have been closely contested, with Oviedo securing two wins, Levante one, and two matches ending in draws.

Team News

Levante will be without Roger Brugue, sidelined with a ligament injury since December, while Pablo Martinez is still uncertain.

Carlos Alvarez is also unavailable due to a muscle issue, and Unai Elgezabal is expected to miss out with a similar concern.

Jon Olasagasti is available again after serving a one-match suspension and could re-enter the starting XI.

In the attack, young forward Carlos Espi will be a player to keep an eye on, having netted four goals in his previous three appearances.

On the other hand, Real Oviedo will need to evaluate the fitness of Lucas Ahijado, Thiago Borbas, and Ovie Ejaria prior to kickoff.

Jaime Vazquez remains out with a long-term groin injury, while Leander Dendoncker is also sidelined due to a muscle problem.

Levante probable starting XI:

Ryan; Toljan, Moreno, Matturro, Sanchez; King, Losada; Garcia, Romero, Tunde; Espi

Real Oviedo probable starting XI:

Scandal; Lopez, Costas, Bailly, Vidal; Ilic, Fonseca, Cibo, Fernandez; Vinas, Queen

Given that both teams are facing issues with consistency and goal scoring, this match might evolve into a tense and chaotic encounter. Levante’s slight upturn in performance gives them a narrow advantage, but Oviedo’s recent victory may instill enough confidence to secure a draw.