Atletico Madrid will be bidding to book their spot in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey when they travel to Valencia on Wednesday night to face Levante.
Diego Simeone's side will enter the contest off the back of a 1-1 draw with Almeria in La Liga on Sunday, while Levante recorded a 3-1 victory over Granada in the Segunda Division on Saturday.
Match preview
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Levante were relegated from La Liga last season due to their 19th-place finish, but they are currently in the promotion mix in the Segunda Division, picking up 40 points from their 23 matches to sit third in the table.
The Valencia-based outfit have only actually lost three times in the league this term, while they are three points behind leaders Eibar and will certainly fancy their chances of securing an automatic return to La Liga.
Levante were 3-1 winners over Granada in the league on Saturday, while they have had to overcome three teams to reach this stage of the Copa del Rey, beating Olot and FC Andorra before recording a 3-2 victory over La Liga side Getafe in the last round of the competition.
Javier Calleja's side will now host Atletico, and they have previous when it comes to advancing deep into this competition in recent seasons, having made the semi-finals in 2020-21 before losing to Athletic Bilbao.
Levante also recorded a 1-0 victory over Atletico when the two teams last met in La Liga last February, while they have not lost to the Red and Whites since June 2020, winning two and drawing two of their last four matches against Simeone's side, with all of those matches taking place in Spain's top flight.
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Atletico, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Almeria in La Liga on Sunday; Angel Correa sent the capital side ahead in the 18th minute before El Bilal Toure levelled the scores in the 37th minute.
The result left Simeone's team in fourth spot in the table, seven points behind third-placed Real Sociedad, while they are level on points with both fifth-placed Villarreal and sixth-placed Real Betis.
There are actually only two points between ninth-placed Rayo Vallecano and Atletico in fourth, which is an indication of how quickly things could change in the top half of the division.
The Red and Whites finished bottom of their Champions League group, meaning that there is no European football for the club in the second half of this season. As a result, the Copa del Rey represents their only realistic chance of claiming some silverware during the 2022-23 campaign.
Atletico have won the Copa del Rey on 10 occasions, making them the fourth-most successful side in the history of the tournament, but they have only lifted the trophy on one occasion (2012-13) since 1996.
There remains widespread speculation surrounding Simeone's future, with the Argentine believed to be preparing to leave Wanda Metropolitano this summer, so it could soon be the end of an era at the club.
Team News
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Levante will have to make a late check on the fitness of Sergio Postigo, who was substituted just before the hour against Granada in the league on Saturday.
Marcelo Saracchi is therefore on standby to feature in the middle of the defence, while Mohamed Bouldini is in contention to start following his goal at the weekend.
Head coach Calleja shuffled his pack for the last round against Getafe, but the likes of Ruben Vezo, Jorge de Frutos and Rober Pier should start in a strong side here.
Joan Femenias, though, is likely to be given the nod between the sticks over Dani Cardenas.
Atletico, meanwhile, will be boosted by the return of Stefan Savic from suspension, while Sergio Reguilon is available despite being sent off against Almeria in the league at the weekend.
As a result, Yannick Carrasco could be the away side's only absentee, with the Belgium international likely to be out until the start of February due to a muscular problem.
Jose Gimenez was also missing against Almeria on Sunday due to a fitness concern, though, which could lead to Mario Hermoso featuring in the middle of the defence.
Pablo Barrios and Rodrigo De Paul are pushing for starting roles in midfield, while Correa should keep his spot at the tip of the attack following his goal at the weekend.
Levante possible starting lineup:
Femenias; Son, Saracchi, Vezo, Munoz; Martinez, Pier, Campana; De Frutos, Wesley, Cantero
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Molina, Savic, Hermoso, Reinildo; Llorente, Koke, De Paul, Barrios, Griezmann; Correa
We say: Levante 1-2 Atletico Madrid
Levante will certainly be confident entering this match considering their recent form and impressive record against Atletico over the last couple of seasons. Simeone's side are taking the Copa del Rey extremely seriously, though, and we believe that the visitors will secure a narrow victory in this match.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
