Espanyol Vs Levante
Saturday 20 June 2020 – 12:30 Kick-Off
Spanish La Liga
Pick: Espanyol Win
Odds: Evens
Bookmaker: Ladbrokes
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 18 June 2020)
Preview: The games continue to come thick and fast in Spain as La Liga sets about completing his backlog of fixtures. First up on the agenda for Saturday sees relegation-threatened Espanyol hosting mid-table Levante.
Spanish La Liga Betting at 22Bet
Table of Contents
Espanyol Preview – Periquitos revival to continue into this weekend?
In another visual representation of how much fighting spirit still exists within this beleaguered team, Espanyol (19th – W5 D9 L15) would claim a potentially invaluable point following a hard-fought goalless draw on the road against top-four chasing Getafe on Wednesday. It takes their tally since the resumption to four points out of six, having eased to a 2-0 win at their RCDE Stadium over Alaves first time out, and moves them to within two points of La Liga safety.
Another positive outcome on Saturday therefore, preferentially another victory on their own patch similar to the last, could lead to coach Abelardo seeing his side climb out of the relegation zone after a long period spent floundering in the bottom three. The omens are certainly positive meanwhile, not least because their next opponents – 11th placed Levante – have slumped to the joint-most defeats in away games this season.
Even more encouraging, however, will have been Espanyol’s performance earlier in the season, when these teams met on Matchday 11 at Levante’s Ciutat de Valencia stadium, that culminated in a 1-0 win for the Periquitos who are now their last five La Liga games unbeaten (W2 D3) versus Saturday’s opponents. That includes another slender 1-0 success during last season’s home encounter.
Levante Preview – Granota keen to avoid fourth successive stalemate?
A third successive draw, this time at home to third-placed Sevilla, last Tuesday would maintain a theme which has seen Levante (11th – W10 D5 L14) score late into both of their fixtures since resuming La Liga commitments following a COVID-19-induced break. Before that it was Valencia who were held at the Mestalla despite boasting a man advantage, after being pegged back deep into stoppage time by this dogged side to also draw 1-1.
Back on their travels this coming weekend, manager Paco Lopez would probably accept another stalemate were it offered to him. That is because there isn’t a team in this season’s La Liga campaign to have registered more away defeats (11) than Levante, who share the dubious honour with Real Mallorca. The Frogs scoring no more than a single goal in 11 of their 15 away fixtures (W3 D1 L11) so far.
Furthermore, as if to further dent the appeal of the visitors, there hasn’t been a victory for Levante as the away side in this fixture since 2010 (D3 L3 since). Failing to even find the back of the net on each of their most recent two trips, losing to nil in 2018/19. Instead, what they can offer is some post-lockdown resilience which has seen them refuse to accept when they are beaten.
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Espanyol vs Levante Betting Advice
Although Levante haven’t exactly been overawed in their two games since the resumption, which were both against superior opponents in the shape of Sevilla and Valencia, that they were so close to losing both should inspire confidence in Espanyol about maintaining their own excellent form since the restart. The latter taking four points from six so far, though a 0-0 draw last time out in Getafe must have felt like a win under the circumstances.
Espanyol Vs Levante – Key Facts
- Both teams are unbeaten since the resumption. Espanyol claiming four points from six to boost their survival chances whereas Levante have two points following successive draws.
- All four of these teams combined La Liga games since the restart have produced Under 2.5 Goals.
- Not since 2012 have Levante won away from home versus Espanyol, who were 1-0 winners earlier in the season in the reverse fixture.
Taking into account how rare it is for Levante to draw away from home this season, which is only once, it doesn’t make sense to back the stalemate. Instead, siding with Espanyol – who know a win here could see them leap out of the relegation zone – could be the way to go. Abelardo’s team prevailed 1-0 during this season’s earlier meeting and would win by that scoreline at home to Levante last season.
Best Betting Odds – Espanyol Vs Levante
Espanyol – Evens (Ladbrokes)
Draw – 13/5 (Bet365)
Levante – 29/10 (Betfair)
