Key Facts
- Levante is in a relegation battle following their 5-1 loss in Villarreal; a home win against Osasuna would cut the gap to Alavés to three points and keep the relegation race alive.
- The injury-related absence of striker Iván Romero weakens Levante’s offense; Carlos Espí must step in as the lone striker, which reduces their firepower.
- Form and head-to-head records favor Osasuna: Osasuna has won three of the last five league meetings, while Levante’s only victory dates back to 2020.
- The first-half pattern in head-to-head matches is revealing: Levante has not led at halftime in any of the last five meetings—Osasuna often decides the matches after the break.
- Tendency toward few goals: In four of Levante’s last five league games, there were fewer than 2.5 goals; in those matches, the halftime tally was even below 1.5, pointing to a low-scoring game.
- Osasuna travels without any reported injury concerns and boasts offensive quality in Budimir, Oroz, and Rubén García, which could tip the scales in a tight match, making an away win or a narrow draw seem more likely.
Levante returns to the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia on Friday evening, still reeling from the 5-1 defeat in Villarreal and the recent loss of Iván Romero. Luís Castro’s team heads into Matchday 35 needing a response, not words. Osasuna, defeated late by Barcelona but otherwise quite solid, arrives under Alessio Lisci as a tough opponent, and the match carries weight for both sides for entirely different reasons.
Three points could cut Levante’s deficit to Alavés to three points and keep their fight for survival alive. Osasuna, on the other hand, wants to secure a stable position in the upper half of the table, as Real Sociedad is just one point ahead of them. The first leg in December 2025 ended 2-0 in Osasuna’s favor, and the odds reflect a matchup that looks tense and evenly matched, likely with few goals.
- Venue: Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, Valencia
- Date and Time: May 8, 2026, 9:00 PM
- Competition: La Liga (Matchday 35)
The betting market sees this match as nearly even, but the real value could lie in a tight contest. Levante has kept the total under 2.5 goals in four of their last five league matches, with each of those games even staying under 1.5 at halftime.
This combination, compounded by the absence of Iván Romero, points to a low-scoring match, making Osasuna or a draw a smarter option than blindly betting on an away win.
Levante Form & Record Check
The immediate problem for Levante is psychological. The 5-1 loss at Villarreal interrupted a promising run in which Luís Castro’s team had defeated Sevilla and Getafe and secured a draw at Espanyol. Carlos Espí did score at La Cerámica, but the match highlighted how quickly Levante loses control when their structure breaks down and the midfield is left scrambling to keep up.
With Iván Romero sidelined due to injury, the offensive burden could fall on Carlos Espí, José Luis Morales, Roger Brugué, and Kareem Tunde, who has been training normally following the scare at Villarreal. The basic pattern remains recognizable, however: Levante typically plays within tight boundaries, which at least suggests a certain degree of defensive discipline.
Levante is likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1, with Mathew Ryan – 13 in goal behind Matías Moreno – 2 and Alan Matturro – 3, while Kervin Arriaga – 16 anchors the defensive midfield. With Iván Romero sidelined due to a torn muscle fiber, Carlos Espí – 19 is expected to lead the attack. Carlos Álvarez’s ankle injury could also push Iker Losada – 18 into a more attacking role.
Osasuna Form & Record Check
Osasuna arrives on the back of a loss to Barcelona, though it hasn’t left any lasting damage. Ante Budimir’s penalty claim was subsequently rejected by the CTA, Rubén García pulled one back in the 88th minute, and their recent run tells a similar story. Alessio Liscis’s team beat Sevilla, drew with Real Betis and Alavés, and lost narrowly to Athletic Club. So the level of play has been consistent, even if the points tally has remained modest.
The problem is that Osasuna rarely takes control early on and has conceded at least once in each of its last five league games. That explains why the hoped-for jump up the table hasn’t materialized. Nevertheless, the team arrives with no reported injury concerns, and with Ante Budimir, Aimar Oroz, and Rubén García, it has enough quality and presence in the box to handle a tense evening better than Levante.
Osasuna is likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Sergio Herrera – 1 behind Alejandro Catena – 24 and Enzo Boyomo – 22. With no injury or suspension issues reported, the backbone of the team could remain unchanged with Lucas Torró – 6 and Jon Moncayola – 7, while Aimar Oroz – 10 plays behind Ante Budimir – 17. This is the most likely lineup, not a confirmed one.
Levante – Osasuna Head-to-Head & Stats
Recent head-to-head matches clearly favor Osasuna. Three of the last five league encounters went to the visitors; Levante’s only win in this sample dates back to 2020. The first leg in December 2025, which ended 2-0 for Osasuna, fits into this picture. The remaining results were a scoreless draw in 2021 and a 3-1 win for Osasuna in 2022, so the overall pattern clearly favors the away team.
More interesting, however, is a look at the early stages. The first half ended in a draw in three consecutive matchups; Levante has not led at halftime in any of the last five games, and Osasuna has scored in four of them. This shows that even if this matchup remains close for a long time, it has regularly swung in Osasuna’s favor after the break.
