7M - Levante vs Alaves Preview: Survival Stakes in La Liga Fixture

Levante will aim to halt a slide as they host Alaves at Estadio Ciudad de Valencia on Friday night in gameweek 26 of La Liga. Bottom club Levante sit 19th, seven points adrift of 17th-placed Elche, while Alaves occupy 14th, three points clear of the relegation zone.

Match Context

Levante arrive on the back of four straight league defeats, having previously beaten Elche and drawn with Atletico Madrid at the end of January. They have eight wins, six draws and 15 losses from 25 league matches, collecting 18 points and scoring 18 goals. The Frogs have the worst home form in La Liga this season, with just seven points from 12 home games and a single win.

Alaves, fresh from a 2-2 draw with Girona, stand four points ahead of the drop zone. Eduardo Coudet's side have collected eight points from 12 away La Liga matches, with only two victories on the road. The visitors have netted seven times away from home this term. Alaves have a 17-6-8 record in 31 all-competition encounters against Levante, including a 2-1 win in the reverse fixture this season. The sides have split recent meetings, with Levante winning their last two at home against Alaves but three of their last six clashes have gone to Alaves.

Team News

Levante will again be without Kervin Arriaga through suspension, while Pablo Martinez, Unai Elgezabal and Roger Brugue are injured. Etta Eyong has been named on the bench in recent matches amid transfer speculation, and he is likely to be among the substitutes again. Ivan Romero has scored four league goals this season and is expected to continue leading the attack.

Alaves are without Ville Koski due to a muscular issue, but otherwise travel with a full squad. Lucas Boye scored twice in the 2-2 draw with Girona and will partner Toni Martinez in attack. Denis Suarez is pushing to start, but the likely XI remains similar to the Girona game.

Predicted starting lineups

Levante: Ryan; Toljan, Dela, Matturro, Sanchez; Rey, Olasagasti; Tunde, Alvarez, V Garcia; Romero

Alaves: Sivera; Otto, Tenaglia, Parada, Yusi; Perez, Ibanez, Blanco, Alena; Martinez, Boye

Prediction: Levante 0-0 Alaves

Both sides have struggled for goals on the road and at home, making a tight, low-scoring affair a plausible outcome. A point apiece would reflect the cautious nature of the contest.