Levante vs Valencia – News and Probable Lineups

Valencia seeks to prevent a third consecutive loss in Spain’s premier division as they face rivals Levante on Sunday.

Los Che are currently sitting in 17th place in the La Liga standings, with a one-point lead over 18th-placed Rayo Vallecano, while Levante is in 19th, trailing their opponents by five points.

Match overview

Levante’s season includes four wins, six draws, and 12 losses across their 22 league matches, accumulating 18 points, which puts them in 19th place, five points behind 17th-placed Valencia, who have an extra game played.

The Frogs have faced difficulties in defense this season, allowing 38 goals in their 22 appearances, tying with Sevilla for the worst record in the league.

Despite their struggles, there have been some positive aspects for Luis Castro’s squad, particularly their performance in the attacking third, but whether they can solidify their defense enough for survival remains uncertain.

Levante, the reigning champions of Segunda Division, arrives at this match following a 4-2 loss to Athletic Bilbao, though they did secure four points from the two preceding matches against Elche and Atletico Madrid.

However, home form has been a significant concern, with the struggling side managing only seven points from their 10 league games at home, which is the lowest in the division.

Meanwhile, Valencia comes off a 2-0 loss to Real Madrid, a result that sees them 17th in the standings, just one point clear of the relegation zone.

Los Che have not been relegated from Spain’s top division since the 1986-87 season, and it would be a significant surprise if they were to drop down to a lower league this season.

Carlos Corberan’s side is struggling to find consistency, having been defeated in their last three matches across all competitions.

Earlier this season, Valencia achieved a 1-0 victory over Levante in their previous matchup, and they also claimed a 4-3 victory in the corresponding game during the 2021-22 season.

Throughout history, the Valencia derby has taken place 39 times, with Valencia leading the overall record with 20 wins to nine, while the rivals have shared points on 10 occasions.

Levante La Liga form:

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Valencia La Liga form:

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Valencia form (all competitions):

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Team News

Levante will be missing Victor Garcia and Roger Brugue due to injuries, while Jeremy Toljan is suspended following a milestone yellow card received in their previous defeat to Athletic.

Castro’s squad also had Alan Matturro receive a red card in their last match, which means the 21-year-old will also be out due to suspension, but Matias Moreno is expected to recover from a head injury to play in defense for the home side.

Etta Eyong continues to draw interest from several clubs, and he is likely to feature in the attacking third once more.

For Valencia, Iker Cordoba and Cristian Rivero will return to the squad following their suspensions, while Jose Copete is now set to miss out due to the milestone yellow card he received in the match against Real Madrid.

In addition, Arnaut Danjuma and Mouctar Diakhaby are sidelined due to injuries, and Dimitri Foulquier will need to pass a late fitness test.

Hugo Duro and Lucas Beltran are expected to play in the forward positions for Valencia, while Javi Guerra could start out wide in Danjuma’s absence.

Levante probable starting XI:

Ryan; Moreno, Dela, Elgezabal, Sanchez; Andres, Raghouber; Tunde, Alvarez, Romero; Eyong

Valencia probable starting XI:

Dimitriexi; Correia, Comert, Nunez, Gaya; Rioja, Pepelu, Ugrinic, Danjuma; Duro, Beltran

Currently, it’s challenging to confidently back either team due to their ongoing struggles this season, and both managers will be eager to avoid any further defeats. Thus, a low-scoring draw seems to be a likely outcome in the Valencia derby.