Levante vs Athletic Club Match Preview & Predictions

Levante vs Athletic Club match preview and predictions for Friday’s LaLiga match. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as Athletic travel to Valencia as these sides face off just before their crunch Copa del Rey clash next week.

Levante vs Athletic Club Preview

The Friday game in LaLiga is something of a dress rehearsal for next week’s Copa del Rey Semi-Final 2nd Leg, also between Levante and Athletic at the Ciutat de Valencia. With both sides comfortable in mid-table in LaLiga, that unquestionably is the bigger game but with a 5 day break in between, we aren’t likely to see too much in the way of rotation from either coach.

After a slow start, Levante are having a fantastic season, one that has the potential to be the very best in their history. They have two potential paths into Europe and having lost just 1 of their last 13 games in all competitions, there’s no reason why they can’t aim that high. They head into this one having blown the title race wide open by defeating Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano last weekend.

They were perhaps a little bit fortunate to claim maximum points but they continue to be a thorn in the sides of the top clubs. Key to their success has been veteran forward Jose Luis Morales who is enjoying another great season having already reached 10 goals in LaLiga with a good chunk of the campaign still to go.

Athletic meanwhile continue to march on under Marcelino. The decision to replace Gaizka Garitano, which caused some debate at the time, has quickly been vindicated and it’s just one defeat in 11 games for the Basque giants heading into this. Barcelona are the only team to have beaten them since the turn of the year.

Their latest result was a 1-1 home draw against Villarreal but they have crucially looked more convincing on their travels under the new boss – seeing off Cadiz 4-0 in their most recent away game. They’ll be hungry to lay down a marker here ahead of next week’s key cup clash.

Head to Head

• Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 4 Athletic Wins, 1 Levante Win, 1 Draw.
• The sides have already met twice this season at San Mames.
• Athletic won 2-0 in LaLiga before a 1-1 draw in the Copa del Rey earlier this month.
• Athletic have won on 4 of their last 6 trips to Levante.

Team News

Ruben Vezo is suspended for the hosts while the likes of Enis Bardhi, Jose Campana and Sergio Postigo remain on the treatment table.

Unai Lopez and Dani Garcia are both missing due to suspension for Athletic.

Predicted Levante Starting Lineup:

Aitor – Clerc, Duarte, Pier, Miramon – Vukcevic, Malsa, Rochina – Morales, Roger, De Frutos (4-3-3)

Predicted Athletic Starting Lineup:

Simon – Yuri, Martinez, Yeray, De Marcos – Muniain, Vesga, Vencedor, Berenguer – R. Garcia, Williams (4-4-2)

Levante vs Athletic Club Predictions

LaLiga Expert Predicts: Levante 1-1 Athletic

With both clubs having one eye on the Copa del Rey Semi 2nd Leg, it’s only natural that this game could become cagey, initially at least. It’s a tough one to call as both sides have been good over the last couple of months and they’ve become difficult to beat. A draw looks the most likely outcome.

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