Levante vs Atletico Madrid Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Levante have been fun to watch again this season as they now welcome in-form Atletico Madrid to Estadio Ciutat de Valencia on Saturday in La Liga.
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: Enterprising Levante
Following the appointment of former Nantes boss Luis Castro mid-way through last season, Levante were one of the best teams in La Liga in the second half of last season with an enterprising style of football punching them clear of relegation on the final day.
They have remained an entertaining watch this season but the Valencians do come into this one on the back of a 2-1 defeat to in-form Real Sociedad in the Basque Country last weekend at the Reale Arena.
Atletico Madrid preview: In-form Atleti
Diego Simeone was once again under some pressure this summer and a stuttering start to the season contributed to that but Atletico Madrid now head into this one on the back of a six-match winning streak in the league.
Los Rojiblancos begin the weekend sitting just two points behind league leaders and defending champions Barcelona after they edged past Deportivo La Coruna by a goal to nil at the Metropolitano the other day with Julian Alvarez scoring the winner.
Levante team news: Dela a doubt
Key centre-back Adrian de la Fuente missed last week’s trip to San Sebastian and he remains a major doubt for this one with midfielder Enzo Bardeli has been sidelined due to a hamstring issue.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Ryan; Toljan, Mandi, Ndukwe, Manu Sanchez; Brugui, Jon Olasagasti, Dani Requena, Fernandez; Ivan Romero, Ratkov
Unavailable: Alex Primo (Injured), Bardeli (Injured)
Questionable: Dela (Injured)
Atletico Madrid team news: Johnny a doubt
United States international midfielder Johnny Cardoso is a doubt for this one due to a thigh injury with Cristian Romero also working his way back to full fitness, while club captain Koke remains sidelined.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Oblak; Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill, Hancko, Alex Grimaldo; Pablo Barrios, Hjulmand; Lee, Alex Baena, Lookman; Julian Alvarez
Unavailable: Koke (Injured)
Questionable: Romero (Fitness), Johnny (Injured)
Key stats
- Coming into Matchweek 11, Atlético are second with 25 points, two behind leaders Barcelona, while Levante are 18th with seven points from nine games.
- Atlético have won six consecutive La Liga games since a 3-0 defeat at Athletic Club on 5 September, including back-to-back 1-0 wins with clean sheets against Espanyol and Deportivo.
- Atlético's 25 points from their first ten games is their joint-third-best start since 1997/98, behind only 2013/14 (27) and 2020/21 (26).
- Atlético have also won their last three away games – 3-0 at Real Sociedad, 2-1 at Alavés and 1-0 at Espanyol.
- Atlético have won 16 of their 30 La Liga meetings with Levante since 1997/98 (D7 L7), but only four of their 15 visits to Levante (D6 L5).
- Levante are unbeaten in their last three home La Liga games against Atlético – all draws: 1-1 in February 2021, 2-2 in October 2021 and 0-0 in January 2026.
- Levante have not beaten Atlético at home since a 2-1 win on 8 May 2016, a run of six games (D4 L2).
- Atlético's biggest win in the fixture came at Levante – 5-0 on 25 November 2017.
- Levante have won only one of their nine games this season (5-2 at home to Betis on 29 August) and are winless in six since (D3 L3).
- Levante have scored in ten consecutive home La Liga games since 27 February 2026, netting ten goals in their three home games this season.
- Levante's games this season have averaged 3.44 goals, compared with 2.80 in Atlético's.
- Levante have won only 45 of their 167 La Liga games on a Saturday since 1997/98 (W45 D46 L76).
‘Key stats’ are La Liga only (not all competitions)
Levante vs Atletico Madrid prediction
After a 3-0 defeat to Athletic Club and then a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League in a game in which they had taken the lead at Anfield, Atleti have embarked upon an eight match unbeaten run of form across all competitions with seven wins and one draw, when with ten men against Stuttgart. They head to a Levante side that can throw some punches and Atleti, albeit slightly more compact, are some way off their resilient best and so, while the visitors are favourites, it may well be a fun watch for the neutral in Valencia.
Levante vs Atletico Madrid tip: Atletico Madrid to win & both teams to score
