Levante vs Real Betis preview - Betis aim to close gap on Levante

Real Betis coach Pepe Mel admits to feeling a touch of envy about the lofty position Monday's opponents Levante find themselves in - even though a victory for his side would leave them within two points of the Valencia-based club.

Levante enjoyed a stunning start to the season but suffered a dramatic loss of form around the turn of the year when they picked up just three points from eight games.

However, Juan Ignacio Martinez's men finally got back to winning ways last weekend with a 2-1 triumph at Espanyol, and that victory saw them climb back into the top four - five points above 12th-placed Betis.

Mel said: "Levante are having a great season and, being honest, I feel a bit of healthy jealousy towards them for the peace of mind they enjoy for their position in the table.

"They are a team who know how to play well in different ways and its no accident that they've spent the whole season up there, in the Champions League spots, although it's also true that if we beat them we will put ourselves within two points."

Betis have also got back on track after a poor run, picking up seven points from their past three games, but with the Primera Division table so tight - only eight points separated fourth-placed Levante from Villarreal in 17th spot at the start of the weekend - Mel knows there is still much do to in their bid to avoid the drop.

He said: "Aside from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, all the teams in this league are direct rivals.

"We are well aware that this is a very important month for us. Every point right now is golden. Levante are having a great season, are coming off a win at Cornella and have a lot of points, but for us the game is vital."

Despite Levante finding themselves well in the fight for the fourth Champions League spot, the east-coast club's primary goal still remains securing their top-flight status.

Winger Vicente Iborra said this week: "Right now we haven't achieved survival and we can't fixate on any other objective. Last year we celebrated too early and it was not good for us. Until we have collected the required number of points to be mathematically safe we aren't going to celebrate anything.

"We have returned to fourth position, but the important thing is to remain there and we want to separate ourselves even more from the relegation places."