Tactics, listed XIs and absentees

Levante are listed in a 4-3-3 with Mathew Ryan in goal, a back line of Nacho Pérez, Adrián de la Fuente, Aïssa Mandi and Manuel Sánchez, and a midfield trio led by Jon Ander Olasagasti and Oriol Rey. The front line features Roger Brugué and Iván Romero with Enzo Bardeli and Thiago Fernández providing energy and ball-carrying from midfield. With 17 corners earned and 199 long balls attempted, Levante can go direct but will also look for quick combinations once they cross halfway. Their 14 big chances and 6 headed goals or attempts to date point to smart timing of runs rather than sheer volume of crosses alone. Defensive structure is bolstered by 43 interceptions and 124 clearances, suggesting good penalty box protection when they sit deeper.

Athletic Club show a 4-2-3-1 anchored by Unai Simón, with a back line of Hugo Rincón, Aitor Paredes, Aymeric Laporte and Johaneko Louis Jean. The double pivot features Mikel Jauregizar and Beñat Gerenabarrena, while Álex Berenguer, Oihan Sancet and Nico Williams support Maroan Sannadi up top. Expect width and early deliveries given their crossing output and 32 corners, as well as front-foot defending highlighted by 61 interceptions and 91 clearances. Their passing completion of 83.5 percent and 863 accurate passes in the opposition half suggest sustained territory when they settle. One area to watch is risk management in the back third, where those 3 errors leading to goals could tempt Levante to press high at times.

Notable absentees: for Levante, forward Etta Eyong is out with a thigh injury. For Athletic, forward Gorka Guruzeta is sidelined by a hamstring injury, midfielder Peio Canales has a muscle issue, and midfielder Iñaki Williams is listed as doubtful with a muscle injury. Lineups are not confirmed at the time of writing, so keep an eye on Sofascore for final team news and live Sofascore Rating updates.

Players to watch

Mathew Ryan is Levante’s featured player to watch with a Sofascore Rating of 7.32 across five matches. He has made 19 saves, kept 2 clean sheets and posted 0.4827 goals prevented, which aligns with what the eye test suggests about his command in the box. Ryan has faced 28 shots on target as a team, with 12 of those blocked before reaching him, underscoring the unit’s willingness to throw bodies in the way. He has also saved 1 of 2 penalties faced, a confidence boost for any back line. In possession, he has 118 accurate passes at 75.6 percent, 24 accurate long balls and 6 high claims, which helps Levante reset shape and spring transitions. If Athletic’s shot volume continues at its current pace, Ryan’s handling and positioning will carry extra value.

On the other end, Unai Simón enters with a Sofascore Rating of 7.36 and a standout 1.921 goals prevented to date. He has 17 saves, 2 clean sheets and 11 high claims, and he is tidy off his line with 10 runs out, 8 successful. His distribution totals 136 accurate passes and 37 accurate long balls, which can bypass pressure and feed wing threats like Nico Williams or Álex Berenguer. Athletic’s defense allows 22 shots on target overall, so Simón’s workload has been manageable yet decisive in key moments. The duel between Ryan and Simón reads like a subplot on its own, and either keeper could swing the Sofascore Rating leaderboard by full-time. For attacking sparks, watch Sancet’s 15 shots and creative output, and Brugué’s 3 goals from 12 shots for Levante.

Numbers that could decide it

Aerials may tip the balance. Athletic win 54.5 percent of aerial duels, while Levante sit at 38.2 percent, a gap that could matter on set plays after 32 and 17 corners respectively. Levante’s direct outlet is clear in 199 total long balls and 97 accurate, while Athletic’s 140 and 65 accurate show selectivity with similar efficiency. Both sides create chances at a high clip with 14 big chances each, but Athletic have missed 8 compared to Levante’s 9, a near wash. Cross accuracy favors the visitors at 26.8 percent against Levante’s 18 percent, which pairs with Athletic’s stronger aerial profile.

In midfield battles, Athletic’s interceptions total of 61 and Levante’s 43 hint at who might disrupt more passing lanes. Duels won share the same story, with Athletic at 50.8 percent and Levante at 46.6 percent. Discipline trends are calm, with both teams frequently landing under 4.5 cards, which can keep the game flowing and tactical. Errors are a hidden variable. Levante have 0 errors leading to goals so far, while Athletic have 3, and that alone can flip tight matches. The xG split slightly favors Athletic at 8.205 to 7.622, yet both goalkeepers’ goals prevented numbers suggest they could beat xG on the day.

Odds and what to expect

Market prices at the time of writing show Athletic Club as slight favorites. The 1X2 sits around 3.40 for Levante, 3.50 for the draw and 2.10 for Athletic. Asian handicap paints a similar picture, with Levante +0.25 priced near 2.03 and Athletic -0.25 near 1.83. Those odds track with Athletic’s stronger head-to-head record and their recent unbeaten run, but they also acknowledge Levante’s output and home setting. Corners could be a wrinkle. Athletic’s recent matches lean over 10.5 corners, though head-to-head history has stayed under in five straight. Cards trends point to a relatively clean match, which often benefits teams that build through wide areas and set patterns.

If Levante improve aerial outcomes and tidy up crossing, their 14 big chances suggest there is enough creation to trouble any visitor. For Athletic, avoiding costly errors in their own third would go a long way given their edge in duels and crossing quality. With two in-form keepers, the first goal may carry heavier weight than usual. Track the flow, live win probabilities and Sofascore Rating swings on the Sofascore match center as the night unfolds.

Ciudad de Valencia will not be short on running, as both teams average more than 100 kilometers per match collectively and rack up sprints at pace. Set pieces and wing play look like the clearest paths to goal, with a goalkeeper duel likely defining the margins. However it breaks, this feels closer on underlying numbers than the long-view head-to-head suggests. Bring your match tracker, and maybe a second screen for those corner counts.