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Levante logo
La Liga | Gameweek 36
Jul 12, 2020 at 4pm UK
Ciudad de Valencia
Athletic Bilbao logo

Levante
1 - 2
Athletic Bilbao

Bardhi (71')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Garcia (4', 45+1')
Martinez (17')

Preview: Levante vs. Athletic Bilbao - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's La Liga clash between Levante and Athletic Bilbao, including team news and predicted lineups.

Athletic Bilbao will be looking to keep their hopes of a top-six finish in La Liga alive when they travel to Levante on Sunday afternoon.

The Basque outfit are currently ninth in the table, five points off sixth-placed Getafe, while Levante occupy 12th spot, five points behind their opponents this weekend.


Match preview

Levante midfielder Enis Bardhi in action against Real Madrid in October 2018© Reuters

Twelve wins, seven draws and 16 defeats - that is how Levante have performed in Spain's top flight this season, with a total of 43 points leaving them in 12th position in the table.

They have finished 15th in each of their last two campaigns at this level and have not actually ended a top-flight season above 14th since 2013-14, which is an indication of their success this term.

The Frogs will enter this match off the back of a disappointing 2-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Mallorca on Thursday night, but they have been in relatively good form since returning to action last month.

Paco Lopez's side have won eight of their 17 home league matches this season, meanwhile, suffering just four defeats, which is an indication of the size of Athletic's task in this weekend's encounter.

Athletic Bilbao's Ander Capa in action with Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann on August 16, 2019© Reuters

Athletic, meanwhile, currently sit ninth in the table, five points off sixth-placed Getafe with three games left as they battle for a spot in next season's Europa League.

The Basque side were in excellent shape when they beat Valencia 2-0 at the start of the month, but they have lost their last two against Real Madrid and Sevilla.

Athletic will fancy their chances of beating Leganes at home on July 14, meaning that a win this weekend could leave them in a decent position to challenge for a top-six spot ahead of their clash with Granada on July 18.

Gaizka Garitano's side have struggled for victories on their travels this season, though, winning just three of their 17 La Liga games away from San Mames, which will not fill their supporters with too much confidence.

Levante La Liga form: WLWDDL

Athletic La Liga form: WLWWLL


Team News

Levante's Nemanja Radoja celebrates scoring their third goal against Barcelona on November 2, 2019© Reuters

Levante will again be without the services of Ivan Lopez due to a knee problem, but the home side are otherwise in good shape when it comes to absentees for this game.

Lopez is expected to shuffle his pack from the side that started against Mallorca, with Borja Mayoral, Sergio Leon and Ruben Rochina all potentially returning to the starting XI.

As for Athletic, Yeray Alvarez remains on the sidelines with a calf problem, but experienced Spaniard Raul Garcia will be available, having served a one-game suspension against Sevilla.

Raul Garcia is likely to return to the starting XI in place of Oihan Sancet, although it could otherwise be the same side that featured last time out.

Indeed, Inaki Williams, Inigo Cordoba and Iker Muniain should all keep their spots in attacking positions, while Mikel Vesga is again likely to get the nod in the middle of the park.

Levante possible starting lineup:
Fernandez; Coke, Rober, Vezo, Tono; Bardhi, Radoja, Rochina, Leon; Mayoral, Marti

Athletic possible starting lineup:
Simon; Capa, Nunez, Martinez, Yuri; Vesga, D Garcia; Cordoba, R Garcia, Muniain; Williams


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Levante 1-1 Athletic Bilbao

This game has a draw written all over it; Athletic have shared the points in eight of their 17 away league matches this season, while Levante have only suffered four La Liga defeats on home soil. A draw is not what Athletic will be looking for as they bid to make the top six, but we are struggling to separate the two sides.



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Written by
Matt Law

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Athletic Bilbao win with a probability of 38.5%. A win for Levante had a probability of 34.25% and a draw had a probability of 27.3%.

The most likely scoreline for an Athletic Bilbao win was 0-1 with a probability of 10.9%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (8.22%) and 0-2 (6.94%). The likeliest Levante win was 1-0 (10.15%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (12.91%). The actual scoreline of 1-2 was predicted with an 8.2% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Athletic Bilbao would win this match.


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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona17122350193138
2Real Madrid16113234132136
3Atletico MadridAtletico16105130111935
4Athletic Bilbao1795326151132
5Villarreal157532725226
6Real Sociedad167361611524
7Osasuna166642225-324
8Mallorca177371620-424
9GironaGirona166462223-122
10Celta Vigo166372527-221
11Real BetisBetis165651820-221
12Rayo Vallecano155461516-119
13Sevilla165471723-619
14Las PalmasLas Palmas165382227-518
15Getafe163761113-216
16AlavesAlaves164391827-915
17Leganes163671423-915
18Espanyol1541101528-1313
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia152491323-1010


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