Preview:Elche vs Levante - prediction, team news, lineups

Elche will be aiming to extend their unbeaten start to the 2025-26 campaign to three matches when they welcome Levante to Estadio Martinez Valero on Friday night.

The home team have picked up two points from two matches to sit 12th in the La Liga table, while Levante have zero points from two games, which has left them in 17th spot in the division.

Match preview

Elche have played out back-to-back 1-1 draws at the start of the new La Liga season, sharing the points with both Real Betis and Atletico Madrid, with two points leaving them in 12th spot in the table.

The Green-striped ones finished second in last season's Segunda Division to secure a return to the top flight, and their main focus for this term is to avoid relegation, with any spot over 18th considered to be a successful campaign.

Eder Sarabia's side fell behind to Atletico last time out, with Alexander Sorloth on the scoresheet, but Rafa Mir levelled the scores, and the promoted outfit managed to secure a point at Wanda Metropolitano.

The Valencian outfit only picked up one point from their two Segunda Division matches with Levante last season, including a 3-1 defeat when the two teams last locked horns in May 2025.

Elche have not actually managed to overcome Levante since April 2021, with that game taking place in La Liga.

Levante can take heart from the fact that they have won three of their last five matches against Elche, remaining beaten in the process, but two of those successes came in front of their own fans.

There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a disappointing start to the 2025-26 La Liga campaign for the reigning Segunda Division champions, suffering back-to-back defeats.

Julian Calero's side were beaten 2-1 by Alaves in their first league game of the season, before suffering a 3-2 defeat to the reigning champions Barcelona last time out.

The Frogs led 2-0 at the interval of their clash with Barcelona, with Ivan Romero and Jose Luis Morales on the scoresheet, but Hansi Flick's team scored three times in the second period to triumph, with the winner coming in the first minute of added time at the end of the 90.

These are the type of matches that Levante need to pick up points in if they are to be successful this term, and another defeat on Friday would be a setback for the reigning Segunda Division champions.

Elche La Liga form:

Levante La Liga form:

Team News

Elche will be without the services of Yago Santiago through injury, while Adam El Mokhtari is a fitness doubt, but the home team are otherwise in strong shape for their clash with Levante.

Mir is one of two players to score for Elche in La Liga this season, and he will once again feature in the final third of the field, while there will also be a spot for German Valera.

There are not expected to be any surprises in the home side's XI for this match, with Pedro Bigas and Matias Dituro set to be among the starters for the promoted outfit.

As for Levante, Alfonso Pastor, Kervin Arriaga and Alan Matturro are definitely out of the contest due to injury problems, while Goduine Koyalipou is a fitness doubt for the visitors.

Morales and Romero were on the scoresheet against Barcelona last time out, and the pair will continue in the final third of the field, while Jeremy Toljan is also set to be in the XI.

Oriol Rey has played the full 90 minutes in both of Levante's La Liga matches this season, and the 27-year-old will be among the starters for the away side in this contest, in addition to Pablo Martinez.

Elche possible starting lineup:

Dituro; Chust, Affengruber, Bigas; Nunez, Aguado, Febas, Mendoza, Valera; Rodriguez, Mir

Levante possible starting lineup:

Campos; Elgezabal, Fuente, Cabello; Toljan, Martinez, Rey, Sanchez; Brugue; Morales, Romero

We say: Elche 1-1 Levante

There have been 20 draws in the previous 57 matches between the two sides in all competitions, and we are predicting another stalemate here, with the points potentially being shared in a 1-1 draw.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.