Villarreal vs Levante: prediction and odds

The final stretch of pre-season is upon both clubs. Villarreal is adapting to the demands of new manager Iñigo Pérez, while Levante is gathering momentum under the guidance of Luís Castro. With just a week and a half until the start of La Liga, the question is: who will be better prepared for this direct test?

Villarreal: Iñigo Pérez’s Rebuild Begins to Take Shape

The most significant change for Villarreal this summer occurred on the touchline. The team is now led by Iñigo Pérez, and the start of his tenure has been a mixed bag. In their first friendly, the Yellow Submarine fell to Benfica (0-2), with Pérez fielding a large number of young players. The response, however, was swift. Against PSV, Villarreal secured a 3-1 victory, dominating the majority of the match and perhaps even deserving a larger win. Following that Dutch test, the side dismantled Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ula 3-0.

The next phase was a training camp in Italy and the Como Cup. Villarreal played out a 1-1 draw with Como in regular time before emerging victorious on penalties to reach the tournament final, where they ultimately fell to Lens (1-3). Crucially, after a short break, internationals Pepe, Gueye, Oluwaseyi, Buchanan, Veiga, and Femenía have all returned to training and could feature from the start in this upcoming fixture.

A notable area of change is in goal. Conde has moved to Betis, while Tenas has joined Mallorca. Throughout pre-season, Luís Júnior, who ended last season on the bench, has been groomed as the new number one. The participation of key midfielder Comesaña is in doubt.

Levante: Luís Castro’s Football Yields Results

Levante’s results under Luís Castro during their training camp have been quite convincing. The team began their pre-season with a win over Leganés (2-1), followed by a defeat to Sheffield United (1-2). They then narrowly beat Saudi side Al-Qadsiah (1-0) and, on August 1st, defeated Albacete 2-1. It’s worth noting that the Spanish side has managed to find the back of the net in every single one of their matches.

One of the new arrivals is Dani Requena, a familiar face to Villarreal as he is owned by the Yellow Submarine. Another significant addition is experienced center-back Aïssa Mandi, who has already begun training with his new teammates. However, one cannot overlook the departure of the team’s main goal scorer, Carlos Espí. The young talent was acquired by Real Madrid for a substantial €25 million, a huge sum for Levante. This loss could severely impact the team’s offensive output, and given the club’s modest resources, replacing Espí will be an immense challenge.

Predicted Lineups for Villarreal vs. Levante

Villarreal (4-4-2): Júnior — Mouriño, Kambwala, Veiga, Romero — Pepe, Gueye, Masià, Moleiro — Ayoze Pérez, Mikautadze

• Unavailable: Foyth (injury), Comesaña (doubtful)
• Head Coach: Iñigo Pérez

Levante (4-2-3-1): Campos — Sánchez, Mandi, Dela, Toljan — Rey, Olasagasti — Cortés, Álvarez, Abed — Eiong

• Unavailable: None
• Head Coach: Luís Castro

Prediction and Bet for Villarreal vs. Levante

Main Prediction: Despite Levante’s respectable pre-season form, the difference in class remains firmly in the hosts’ favor. An additional factor is the venue, with the match taking place at Villarreal’s training ground. After an intensive training camp in Italy, the team has had several days to recover and prepare. While Levante is capable of causing problems for their regional neighbors, the quality of players like Mikautadze, Moleiro, Ayoze Pérez, Buchanan, and other attacking talents makes Iñigo Pérez’s side the clear favorite at this comparable stage of preparation. Considering all the above, we favor a Villarreal victory.

Goals Prediction: Villarreal has not been entirely solid at the back. The team has conceded seven goals in five pre-season matches. Their attack, however, has been more productive, finding the net eight times in their last four games. Levante, for their part, has scored in every friendly this summer: twice against Leganés and Albacete, and once each against Sheffield United and Al-Qadsiah. We recommend a bet on "both teams to score – yes."