Levante vs Espanyol Preview: Team News & Prediction
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In what could be quite a fun watch for the neutral, we have a potentially immediately improved Levante taking on La Liga's surprise package Espanyol.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – 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 / US – ESPN+
Levante preview: Turning a corner
Having gained promotion to the top-flight last season, Levante have struggled throughout this campaign with Julian Calero eventually paying the price, despite some enterprising performances early on this season. The Valencians will believe they could be beginning something special now under Luis Castro.
The Portuguese coach was sacked by Nantes earlier this season with good performances undermined by poor results for the Canaries. However, in his first game in charge of Levante, they went and won away at Sevilla by three goals to nil last week with goals from Iker Losada, Carlos Espi and Carlos Alvarez.
Espanyol preview: The surprise package
Espanyol underwent a takeover in the summer by Burnley owner Alan Pace, with the idea being to take Espanyol to Europe - and that task has started very well with the Catalans, under the management of Manolo Gonzalez, sitting just outside of the top four and the UEFA Champions League spots in La Liga.
They put in an excellent performance at home to city rivals Barcelona last weekend but eventually succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to the defending champions as a result of late strikes from Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski in a game in which Espanyol had been the better side and deserved much more at the RCDE Stadium.
Levante team news: Still no Eyong
Cameroon international striker Karl Etta Eyong, who joined from Villarreal in the summer and has been very good for Levante, is away at AFCON so remains unavailable.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ryan; Toljan, Dela, Matias Moreno, Diego Pampin; Kervin Arriaga, Unai Vencedor; Jose Luis Morales, Carlos Alvarez, Iker Losada; Ivan Romero
Unavailable: Unai Elgezabal (Injured), Eyong (International duty)
Questionable: Victor Garcia (Injured), Brugui (Injured), Koyalipou (Injured)
Espanyol team news: Pol Lozano suspended
Pol Lozano is missing through suspension for the visitors, while Democratic Republic of Congo international Charles Pickel may have returned in time from the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Fernando Calero, Leandro Cabrera, Carlos Romero; Dolan, Edu Exposito, Urko Gonzalez, Pere Milla; Roberto Fernandez, Kike
Unavailable: Pol Lozano (Suspended), Ramon Terrats (Injured)
Questionable: Pickel (International duty)
Levante vs Espanyol prediction
That result won't have knocked the confidence of Espanyol and they will head to Valencia believing they can simply flex their muscles of being the bigger and better side. Levante will give as good as they get, though, and, especially after last weekend, should have some confidence of their own to play off and so both teams scoring would seem a good bet at Estadio Ciutat de Valencia.
Levante vs Espanyol tip: Both teams to score
