Espanyol are stumbling into this one, desperate to snap a brutal 15-match winless streak. They've lost four of their last five in La Liga, including a disheartening 1-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano just days ago. And their defense has been leaky, conceding heavily against the likes of Barcelona.
Levante, though, are showing some fight in their relegation scrap. They're 19th with 32 points from 32 games, but they've picked up wins against Sevilla and Getafe recently. That said, a loss to Real Sociedad reminds us they're not out of the woods yet. It's a tale of two teams: one sinking deeper, the other clawing for survival.
History favors Espanyol here. They're unbeaten in the last five head-to-heads against Levante, boasting three wins and two draws. Their only meeting this season ended in a 1-1 stalemate back in January, so expect more of the same tight affair.
Injuries could tilt things. Espanyol miss Javi Puado for the long haul due to a cruciate ligament tear, which might blunt their attack. Levante aren't in great shape either, with Iván Romero suspended and key players like Kareem Tunde sidelined. That leaves their predicted lineup looking a bit threadbare, though Carlos Espí could still be a threat up front.
Looking at the lineups, Espanyol might line up in a 4-4-2 with Dmitrovic in goal, relying on Pere Milla and Roberto Fernández to find the net—they've bagged six and five goals respectively. For Levante, it's a 4-1-4-1 formation, and Jeremy Toljan's been creating chances lately, while Espí leads the line with eight goals this season. He's the one to watch if they want to pull off an upset.
With Espanyol in 12th on 38 points, they're not in immediate danger, but this winless run is embarrassing. Levante need points badly, yet their form suggests they might just hold on for a draw. I expect a low-key game, probably ending in a stalemate given the defenses on show.
That brings us to the picks. Espanyol should edge it at home, but I'm not betting the house. Let's go with some value plays based on the trends.
Recommended Bets
Bet 1 @2.50 — Draw, as their recent head-to-head and Espanyol's poor form point to a stalemate.
Bet 2 @1.80 — Under 2.5 goals, considering Espanyol's low-scoring outings and Levante's mixed results.
Bet 3 @3.00 — Carlos Espí to score anytime, he's Levante's top marksman with eight goals this year.
Odds tend to shorten closer to kickoff — lock in value now.
