Levante UD are chasing their first La Liga win of the season this Saturday as they host a flawless Real Betis at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia. The match, scheduled for 17:00 and broadcast on DAZN, pits a struggling granota side against a Betis team that has started the campaign perfectly.
As reported by ABC Deportes, the referee for the clash will be De Burgos Bengoetxea from the Colegio Vasco, with Pulido Santana on VAR duty. Levante enter the game in a difficult position, sitting 17th in the standings with just one point from two matches, having recorded zero wins, one draw, and one loss. Luis Castro's team has failed to score and has conceded three goals, leaving them with a -3 goal difference. This puts them six points behind the league leaders, Alaves.
What is Levante's current situation?
The granota squad saw important departures during the summer transfer window, with key players like Espí, Arriaga, Tunde, and Pablo Martínez leaving. Despite this, Portuguese manager Castro trusts the group that achieved a near-miraculous survival last season. For this match, he will field Ryan; Toljan, Dela, Mandi, Manu Sánchez; Oriol Rey, Olasagasti, Bardeli; Brugué, Thiago, and Iván Romero. Levante's next fixture is an away trip to face Malaga on September 6th, another direct rival in the lower part of the table.
What challenges does Pellegrini's Betis face?
Real Betis arrive in high spirits after winning their first two league matches without conceding and having qualified for the Champions League for the first time in 21 years. However, Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini must manage a grueling schedule. "Securing nine points from nine would be putting a very high mark on the green-and-white team's league start," the coach stated. This is his team's third match in eight days, and the summer transfer market closes on Tuesday, September 1st.
Pellegrini will rotate his lineup. The Betis starting eleven will feature Valles; Bellerín, Bartra, Natan, Fran García; Marc Roca, Deossa, Fornals; Antony, Riquelme, and Parrott. Striker Parrott made his debut and is seen as a reliable alternative to Cucho, who joined preseason late. Marc Roca will add energy to the midfield, while Pablo García has earned a spot as an option to increase the game's tempo. The injured Abde, who missed the World Cup with Morocco, was included in the squad for the first time, but Pellegrini clarified he is not yet ready to play a full match.
What role does Isco play for the team?
Isco is accumulating quality minutes and was decisive in the early victories. Both of Betis's La Liga goals this season were scored while he was on the pitch, although he suffered a scare during the match at Mestalla. His contribution is vital for the Seville-based team's creative play.
What comes next for Levante?
After this match, the schedule offers no respite. The league season will continue until almost the end of September before the first break, a period in which Betis will play seven league matches and one Champions League game. For Levante, every point is precious in this initial phase. The visit to Malaga next week, which you can check on our fixtures page, represents another crucial opportunity to climb out of the relegation places. The team urgently needs to find the net and improve their defensive numbers, something you can follow on our stats page. The fight for survival starts on day one, and facing an in-form rival like Betis is a stern test for the granotas' aspirations this campaign.
