Espanyol vs Levante: Prediction, Betting Tips and Match Preview

The 2024-25 La Liga season kicks off with a challenging away fixture for Levante – the Valencian side haven’t beaten Espanyol at their stadium since 2020. Now, the team arrives in Barcelona noticeably transformed, with a whopping 11 new signings joining the squad over the summer. The opening matchday will reveal just how quickly manager Luís Castro has managed to mould this fresh group into a cohesive unit. Could the summer overhaul be the catalyst for a flying start?

Tactical Analysis

Espanyol: Shoring Up the Defence

Espanyol’s pre-season began on a positive note, with the team conceding just one goal across their first three friendlies. However, it’s worth noting the quality of opposition was modest – they faced sides from Spain’s lower divisions and French amateur leagues. The real test came when the squad travelled to England for the final phase of their preparations, and defensive frailties became far more apparent. Over three matches in the UK, Espanyol leaked eight goals: two against Burnley (2-2), three versus Middlesbrough (3-3), and another three in a 1-3 defeat to Premier League newcomers Coventry City. Unsurprisingly, the club is still hunting for reinforcements at centre-back – one name on the radar is Zenit St Petersburg’s Vanja Drkušić.

Espanyol have been methodical in plugging the gaps left by departing players this summer. After Romero returned to Villarreal, the left flank was bolstered by the arrival of Hartman on loan from Burnley, a player with Champions League experience. In central defence, Unai Núñez has been brought in on loan from Celta Vigo to fill the void left by Calero. The midfield has been strengthened by 20-year-old Gabriel Moscardo, signed from PSG after spending last season on loan at Braga. Heading into the first round, the most significant absences are up front – both Puado and last season’s top scorer Kike García are sidelined with injuries. Sporting director Monchi has estimated the squad is around 85% complete, meaning transfer business is far from finished.

Levante: A Summer Revolution

Levante closed out their pre-season schedule in decent form. In August, they defeated Albacete 2-1, then put in a strong performance against bronze medalists Villarreal, losing only 0-1. Cadena SER’s match report specifically praised their solid defensive organisation and the threat they posed on the counter-attack. In their final warm-up game, the visitors cruised past Castellón 3-1, finishing preparations on a winning note. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Castro gave a positive assessment of the team’s work, stating he was satisfied with their condition heading into the new campaign.

The Levante squad has undergone a radical transformation over the summer. The biggest loss is Carlos Espí, sold to Real Madrid for €25 million. Loans for centre-backs Matías Moreno and Alan Matturro have also expired, forcing a major rebuild of the defensive line. To anchor the back four, the club has put its faith in experienced Aïssa Mandi, a defender with over 300 La Liga appearances to his name. In attack, 19-year-old Yanis Moussaoui has been brought in, and just before the league kicked off, midfielder Thiago Fernández arrived on loan from Villarreal. One of the team’s captains, Roger Brugué, will miss the first round as he serves a suspension.

Predicted Lineups

Espanyol (4-2-3-1): Dmitrović – El-Hilali, Núñez, Cabrera, Hartman – U. González, Expósito – Dolan, J. Hernández, Calatrava – R. Fernández

Out: Puado, Kike García (both injured)

Head Coach: Manolo González

Levante (4-3-3): Ryan – Toljan, Dela, Mandi, M. Sánchez – Rey, Olazagasti, Requena – V. García, Romero, Cortés

Out: Brugué (suspended)

Head Coach: Luís Castro

Referee

(No specific referee information was provided in the source material.)

Prediction and Bet

Main Prediction: Espanyol to Win at 2.10

Espanyol enter this match as the favourites, primarily due to the advantage of playing at home and the greater stability of their squad. Levante have undergone a major overhaul this summer, with 11 newcomers still getting to grips with each other and Castro’s tactical demands. Even during a promising pre-season, the Valencians regularly allowed their opponents to score, keeping a clean sheet on only one occasion in six friendlies. The head-to-head record in Barcelona also favours the hosts – Espanyol have not lost any of their last three home matches against Levante, winning two of them. Given these factors, backing a home win at 2.10 looks like a solid play.

Goals Prediction: Both Teams to Score – Yes at 1.90

The Catalan side ended their pre-season campaign with notable defensive issues, conceding eight goals in their last three games. Over at Levante, the centre-back partnership is being rebuilt from scratch after the loan departures of Moreno and Matturro, and the team managed just one clean sheet in six summer friendlies. A high-scoring scenario is further supported by the recent history between these two sides – in six of their last seven meetings, both teams found the net. Therefore, a bet on “both teams to score – yes” at 1.90 offers strong value.