Levante
AthleticBy Kayode Akintola — Football expert covering K League, Kakkonen, Liga I, Leon Second League
Levante and Athletic Club head into their direct clash following two wildly contrasting matchdays. The Valencian side pushed league leaders Barcelona to the brink in a thrilling 2:4 defeat, while the Basques surprisingly dropped points at home against Elche (1:1). With just two points separating the teams, this fixture in Valencia represents a golden opportunity for both clubs to climb the standings.
Luis Castro’s side has produced mixed results in the opening rounds, yet their home form hints at real potential. A resounding 5:2 demolition of Betis was followed by a spirited, albeit losing, effort against Barcelona (2:4) last time out. Away from home, however, the picture is far bleaker: no wins in three matches and not a single goal scored. Levante currently resemble two entirely different teams depending on the venue.
A persistent issue is their inability to start matches with intensity. Across five rounds, they have failed to win a single first half. Against Barcelona, this flaw was brutally exposed—by the 20th minute, they trailed 0:2, and only a second-half revival sparked by Ivan Romero and Roger Brugé brought them back into the contest. The capacity to raise their level exists, but against strong opposition, sluggish beginnings can leave too little time to recover.
Injuries further complicate matters for the hosts. Carl Etta Eyong is still recovering from a right thigh muscle strain, while Alex Primo misses out with a shoulder problem. Castro’s options, particularly in attack, are therefore somewhat limited heading into this encounter.
After a shaky start, the Basques found their rhythm with a confident 2:0 win over Celta and a stunning 3:0 thrashing of Atlético Madrid. Yet their winning streak came to an abrupt halt with a frustrating 1:1 home draw against Elche. Inconsistency remains the defining trait of Terzić’s team—even their three home games have produced wildly different outcomes: a win, a draw, and a defeat.
The stalemate with Elche was particularly telling. Athletic registered 19 shots against just 3 from their opponents and generated an xG of 2.40, yet failed to convert their dominance into goals. Terzić himself pointed to a lack of efficiency in attack and poor final passes, attributing part of the problem to insufficient movement up front. The Basques can create sustained pressure, but their finishing quality often falls short of the chances they carve out.
The visitors also carry significant absences. Guruzeta continues his recovery from a hamstring injury, Canales is sidelined with a calf problem, Vivian is out injured, and Egiluz remains unavailable following knee surgery. The absence of Guruzeta is particularly keenly felt, forcing Terzić to deploy Iñaki Williams as the central striker.
Levante (4-1-4-1): Ryan – Tolyan, Dela, Mandi, Sánchez – Rey – Brugé, Bardeli, Olasagasti, Fernández – Romero
Unavailable: Primo, Eyong (both injured)
Head coach: Luís Castro
Athletic Club (4-2-3-1): Simón – Areso, Y. Álvarez, Laporte, Berchiche – Galarreta, Herenabarrena – Navarro, Sancet, N. Williams – I. Williams
Unavailable: Vivian, Canales, Egiluz, Guruzeta (all injured)
Head coach: Edin Terzić
Quintero González has officiated two La Liga matches this season, averaging 3 yellow cards and 26 fouls per game. He has already shown one red card and awarded one penalty. Compared to last season, his card count has dropped noticeably (from 5 yellows per match), yet he maintains a strict approach—in both of his opening fixtures, he issued a red card and pointed to the spot.
Main prediction: Athletic to win at 2.15
Athletic have played two away matches so far: a 0:2 loss to Barcelona, which can hardly be considered a surprise, and a confident 2:0 victory over Celta. Levante, meanwhile, have managed just one win in their last four rounds and recently fell 2:4 at home to Barcelona—though that scoreline flattered them, as the Catalans led 3:0 early in the second half before easing off. It is also worth noting that the Basques remain unbeaten in their last five away meetings with Levante. With all factors considered, the visitors get the nod here.
Total goals prediction: Both of Levante’s home league matches have been high-scoring affairs—5:2 against Betis and 2:4 versus Barcelona. Athletic have also showcased their attacking prowess, netting three against Atlético and generating xG figures of 2.78 and 2.40 against Celta and Elche respectively. The last head-to-head between these sides ended 4:2 in Athletic’s favour. Given the attacking intent on both sides, we expect at least three goals and back over 2.5 at 1.85.
The editorial prediction is provided for informational purposes only and should not be treated as a direct call to action. Every reader should do their own analysis before deciding on a bet.
Levante4-1-4-1
Athletic4-2-3-1Let’s be straightforward here: Levante and Athletic are both capable of playing attacking football, and I see no reason why they’d hold back in this LaLiga clash. Given the odds at 1.80, the market is pricing in some goals, and I fully expect the total to go over 2.5.
These two sides tend to trade chances and avoid defensive stalemates. With both willing to push forward, the conditions are right for an open match. Backing over 2.5 goals is the clear call for me.
Athletic are on the road today, and that’s enough for me to rule out a straight win for them. Playing away from home, I don’t see the Basques taking all three points here.
That’s why I’m backing the double chance on Levante — home win or draw at 1.75. Solid value given the circumstances.
Athletic's visit to Levante in LaLiga has all the makings of an open contest, and I'm expecting plenty of corners to reflect that. The odds of 1.87 for over 9.5 corners look well worth taking here.
Athletic may hold a slight edge on paper, but Levante are at home and won’t want to embarrass themselves in front of their fans. That dynamic points toward an open game, so I’m backing over 2.5 goals here.
Levante’s home form in LaLiga has consistently produced a heavy stream of corners, and Wednesday’s match against Athletic should be no exception. With the hosts pushing forward from the first whistle, I expect them to rack up attacking set pieces at a steady clip. The bookmakers’ line of 4.5 for Levante corners looks reachable, and at 1.92, the price offers solid value rather than a coin flip.
Athletic’s defensive setup tends to concede wide deliveries, especially away from home, which only strengthens the case for Levante to clear this threshold. I’m backing Team 1 over 4.5 corners with confidence—this isn’t a gamble on a fluke, but a bet rooted in how these sides typically play out.
Levante and Athletic meet in LaLiga, and I don’t expect the second half to bring much goal action. The bet here is under 1.5 goals after the break, and at 1.77, that looks like a solid play. Both sides tend to tighten up as the match wears on, so I’m backing a quiet finish rather than a flurry of scoring.
Levante hosting Athletic in LaLiga is a match that screams low scoring. I’m expecting one of these sides to draw a blank — it won’t be easy for both to find the back of the net, which keeps the total under 2.5 firmly in play. At 1.98, that’s the value bet.
Levante's home games this season have been anything but predictable. They smashed Betis 5-2, then lost a high-scoring affair to Barcelona 2-4. Now they face Athletic Bilbao, and it's anyone's guess which version of the hosts shows up.
Athletic have bounced back well after two opening losses, including a dominant 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid. But Levante have found their scoring touch at home with seven goals in two matches. The head-to-head record favors Athletic, but Levante's form in front of their own fans makes this too close to call. I see a draw here.
Levante's home games this season have been anything but predictable. They smashed Betis 5-2, then lost a high-scoring affair to Barcelona 2-4. Now they face Athletic Bilbao, and it's anyone's guess which version of the hosts shows up.
Athletic have bounced back well after two opening losses, including a dominant 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid. But Levante have found their scoring touch at home with seven goals in two matches. The head-to-head record favors Athletic, but Levante's form in front of their own fans makes this too close to call. I see a draw here.
Athletic are on the road today, and that’s enough for me to rule out a straight win for them. Playing away from home, I don’t see the Basques taking all three points here.
That’s why I’m backing the double chance on Levante — home win or draw at 1.75. Solid value given the circumstances.
Let’s be straightforward here: Levante and Athletic are both capable of playing attacking football, and I see no reason why they’d hold back in this LaLiga clash. Given the odds at 1.80, the market is pricing in some goals, and I fully expect the total to go over 2.5.
These two sides tend to trade chances and avoid defensive stalemates. With both willing to push forward, the conditions are right for an open match. Backing over 2.5 goals is the clear call for me.
Athletic's visit to Levante in LaLiga has all the makings of an open contest, and I'm expecting plenty of corners to reflect that. The odds of 1.87 for over 9.5 corners look well worth taking here.
Athletic may hold a slight edge on paper, but Levante are at home and won’t want to embarrass themselves in front of their fans. That dynamic points toward an open game, so I’m backing over 2.5 goals here.
Levante’s home form in LaLiga has consistently produced a heavy stream of corners, and Wednesday’s match against Athletic should be no exception. With the hosts pushing forward from the first whistle, I expect them to rack up attacking set pieces at a steady clip. The bookmakers’ line of 4.5 for Levante corners looks reachable, and at 1.92, the price offers solid value rather than a coin flip.
Athletic’s defensive setup tends to concede wide deliveries, especially away from home, which only strengthens the case for Levante to clear this threshold. I’m backing Team 1 over 4.5 corners with confidence—this isn’t a gamble on a fluke, but a bet rooted in how these sides typically play out.
Levante and Athletic meet in LaLiga, and I don’t expect the second half to bring much goal action. The bet here is under 1.5 goals after the break, and at 1.77, that looks like a solid play. Both sides tend to tighten up as the match wears on, so I’m backing a quiet finish rather than a flurry of scoring.
Levante hosting Athletic in LaLiga is a match that screams low scoring. I’m expecting one of these sides to draw a blank — it won’t be easy for both to find the back of the net, which keeps the total under 2.5 firmly in play. At 1.98, that’s the value bet.
The match is on 16 September 2026 at 20:30 in Valencia, as part of LaLiga.
The main prediction is Athletic to win at odds of 2.15, based on their strong away form and Levante's inconsistent home performances.
Yes, Levante are without Carl Etta Eyong (thigh) and Alex Primo (shoulder). Athletic miss Guruzeta (hamstring), Canales (calf), Vivian (injury), and Egiluz (knee surgery).
Levante have been strong at home, winning 5-2 against Betis and losing 2-4 to Barcelona, but they have failed to win any first half in their five league matches.
Athletic have been inconsistent: they beat Celta 2-0 and Atlético 3-0, but drew 1-1 with Elche despite dominating chances (xG 2.40). They have struggled with finishing.
Over 2.5 goals is recommended at 1.85, as both teams have been involved in high-scoring games and the last head-to-head ended 4-2.