Levante vs Athletic Bilbao Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
This is a catch-up game in La Liga after the original clash between Levante and Athletic Club at Estadio Ciutat de Valencia was postponed last month due to flash flooding.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / USA – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Player / USA – ESPN+
Levante preview: Entertaining Levante
Levante come into this one on the back of a 1-1 draw with La Liga’s surprise package this season, Deportivo La Coruna, at Riazor in Galicia at the weekend with Dani Requena scoring an 82nd minute equaliser for the Valencians.
In the second half of last season, Levante propelled themselves from more or less dead and buried to safe in Spain’s top-flight following the appointment of former Dunkerque and Nantes boss Luis Castro.
Athletic Bilbao preview: Terzic at Athletic
Over the summer, Ernesto Valverde was replaced by former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic at Athletic Club and there have been some teething issues for the Basque giants as they seek to become more intense and energetic with their style of play.
Athletic head into this one on the back of a goalless draw with Valencia at Mestalla last weekend, extending their current unbeaten run of form to five matches since beginning the season with back-to-back defeats.
Levante team news: Nothing fresh
Former Villarreal striker Karl Etta Eyong is working his way back to full fitness with back-up goalkeeper Alex Primo still sidelined alongside Celta Vigo loanee Hugo Sotelo.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Ryan; Toljan, Dela, Ndukwu, Manu Sanchez; Oriol Rey, Dani Requena, Bardeli; Brugui, Ivan Romero, Fernandez
Unavailable: Alex Primo (Injured), Hugo Sotelo (Injured)
Questionable: Eyong (Fitness)
Athletic Bilbao team news: New injuries
Athletic head to Valencia with some fresh injury issues for this one as Gorka Guruzeta is a confirmed absentee with former Real Mallorca winger Robert Navarro is also now a doubt.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Unai Simon; Hugo Rincon, Aitor Paredes, Laporte, Louis-Jean; Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Benat Gerenabarrena; Alex Rego, Peio Canales, Alex Berenguer; Sannadi
Unavailable: Unai Egiluz (Injured), Oihan Sancet (Injured), Gorka Guruzeta (Injured)
Questionable: Alvaro Djalo (Illness), Robert Navarro (Injured), Nico Williams (Fitness)
Levante vs Athletic Bilbao prediction
Athletic’s intensity and energy was limited against a very solid and defensive Valencia side at Mestalla last week. The Basque giants have actually ended up being one of the tougher watches for a neutral but, at their best, as shown against Celta Vigo and Atletico Madrid last month, they can be quite fun. Levante will be confident of drawing any team into a thriller with their eight La Liga matches having consisted of 28 goals and so both teams scoring may well be a decent bet for this one on Wednesday.
Levante vs Athletic Bilbao tip: Both teams to score
