Levante vs Villarreal: Match Preview, Predictions, and Team Lineups

Villarreal is set to clash with Levante in a pivotal La Liga matchup on Sunday. The Yellow Submarine seeks to extend their winning streak to seven matches and solidify their place in the title race, currently sitting third in the league.

Current Standings and Team Form

As of this weekend, Villarreal trails leaders Barcelona by five points while holding a game in hand. Levante, on the other hand, finds itself at the bottom of the table with only nine points from 15 matches.

Levante’s Struggles

Levante began the season with promise, but recent weeks have been challenging. Following a recent loss to Osasuna, they face substantial adversity, marking their fifth consecutive defeat in La Liga. This comes on the heels of their promotion from the Segunda Division, where they earned the title last season.

Since sacking head coach Julian Calero at the end of November, Alvaro del Moral has taken over as interim manager. Despite securing a 1-0 victory against Ciudad Cieza in the Copa del Rey earlier this month, form in the league has been abysmal. Levante has a record of two wins, three draws, and ten defeats this season.

Villarreal’s Strong Form

In contrast, Villarreal has been in exceptional form, winning six straight La Liga matches, including victories over Valencia and Espanyol. They currently boast the best defensive record in the league, having conceded only 13 goals this season. However, the team is grappling with challenges in the Champions League, sitting in a disappointing 35th place overall.

Player Availability and Key Matchups

Levante will be without players Pablo Martinez, Adrian Dela, Matias Moreno, and Carlos Espi due to injuries. Key players to watch include Ivan Romero and Etta Eyong, who are both in strong form, with Romero scoring four goals this season and Eyong five.

Villarreal will welcome back Pape Gueye after suspension, but several players, including Pau Cabanes and Willy Kambwala, remain sidelined. Juan Foyth will return to the starting lineup after missing the last match due to suspension.

Predicted Lineups

• Levante: Ryan; Toljan, Matturro, Cabello, Sanchez; Alvarez, Arriaga, Vencedor, Brugue; Romero, Eyong
• Villarreal: Junior; Navarro, Foyth, Veiga, Cardona; Buchanan, Gueye, Comesana, Moleiro; Perez, Mikautadze

Match Prediction

Considering both teams’ current trajectories, Villarreal is likely to continue their strong form. We predict a close match, ultimately favoring Villarreal with a score of 2-1 over Levante. While Levante possesses attacking talent, Villarreal’s current momentum gives them the edge needed to secure three points.