Levante UD heads into the fourth matchday of LaLiga EA Sports in high spirits following a resounding victory and with eyes on a match officiated by a debutant. Luis Castro's side thrashed Real Betis 5-2 on August 29th and now travel to face newly-promoted Malaga CF, a game that will be refereed by Luis Bestard Servera in his top-flight debut, as reported by Sport.es.
How did Levante thrash Betis?
According to the Fox Sports recap, the match at the Ciutat de Valencia was an offensive exhibition from Levante. Roger Brugué was the standout figure, scoring two of the five goals for the Granotes. The scoreline reflected a clear superiority from the home team, who secured three valuable points.
This win contributes to Levante currently sitting in 10th place in the LaLiga standings, with 4 points from one win, one draw, and one loss in their first three games. The team has scored 5 goals and conceded 5, maintaining a neutral goal difference. You can check the full progression on the standings page.
Who is the referee for Malaga vs Levante?
Sunday's clash at La Rosaleda will have an unusual protagonist on the pitch. Luis Bestard Servera, aged 32, will referee his first match in the top division. The Balearic official was promoted to LaLiga last season, following a path parallel to that of Malaga CF, whom he previously officiated in the second division and Primera Federación.
Sport.es details that Bestard Servera has a favourable record with the Malaga team, as in his four previous matches with them, Malaga achieved three wins and one draw. However, he has never refereed a Levante match, making this a double debut. His appointment for this game came after overcoming some physical issues at the start of the campaign.
How could both teams line up?
Media outlets anticipate consistent lineups for both sides. For Levante, publications Sport.es and Mundo Deportivo agree on an eleven very similar to the one that routed Betis. Goalkeeper Ryan is expected to start again, with a defence of Toljan, Mandi, De La Fuente, and Manu Sánchez. In midfield, Olasagasti and Rey would be the pivots, with Bardeli, Brugué, and Thiago Fernández providing creativity. Iván Romero would lead the attack.
For Malaga, manager Juanfran Funes will have his latest signings available, although the starting eleven is unlikely to see drastic changes. The team faces the match with several confirmed injury absences, including Murillo, Calero, and Julen Lobete. For Pablo Martínez, a former Levante player, this will be a special encounter against his old club.
What absences does Levante have for the match?
Manager Luis Castro confirmed, in statements reported by Mundo Deportivo, that he will not take risks with Cameroonian forward Etta Eyong, who is suffering from discomfort after Friday's training session. Etta Eyong is currently sidelined and his participation is ruled out. This is a significant loss for the Granotes attack.
Besides Eyong, Alejandro Primo is also injured. However, the two reinforcements signed at the end of the transfer window, Serbian Petar Ratkov and Frenchman Axel Tape, are included in the squad and could get their first minutes with the team. The squad's status can be followed in detail in the injuries section.
What's next for Levante?
After the match in Malaga, Levante will face a major challenge. Their next LaLiga EA Sports commitment will be against FC Barcelona, the current league leaders. The match will be played at home, at the Ciutat de Valencia, on September 13th. Barcelona leads Levante by five points in the table, making the encounter a stern test for the team's aspirations. The team's full schedule is available in our fixtures calendar.
