Two teams in relatively strong form will lock horns at Estadio Ciudad de Valencia on Friday evening as Levante welcome Real Valladolid in Spain's top flight.
Levante, who occupy 11th spot in La Liga, have won three of their last four matches in all competitions, while Valladolid have been victorious in three of their last five outings.
Match preview
Levante have won five, drawn seven and lost six of their 18 La Liga matches this season, with a total of 22 points leaving them in 11th position, just two points behind eighth-placed Cadiz with a game in hand.
The Frogs are in their fourth straight season at this level but have finished 15th, 15th and 12th in their last three campaigns, meaning that the fact they are currently pushing towards the top half is a huge positive.
Paco Lopez's side will enter this game off the back of a 2-2 draw at Cadiz on Tuesday night, with Roger Marti's first-half brace not proving enough to overcome the promoted club at Estadio Ramon de Carranza.
Levante have beaten Portugalete and Fuenlabrada in the Copa del Rey and overcome Eibar in the league this month, though, and therefore should be in a confident mood heading into Friday's contest.
Each of the last two La Liga meetings between these two sides have finished level, but Levante have won their last two home games with Valladolid, including a 2-0 success in the corresponding game last term.
Valladolid, meanwhile, will enter the clash off the back of a 2-2 draw with Elche on Tuesday, with Joaquin Fernandez levelling the scores in the 89th minute as Sergio Gonzalez's side came from two down to secure a share of the spoils against Jorge Almiron's team.
As mentioned, the White and Violets have won three of their last five matches in all competitions, although two of those victories have been in the Copa del Rey, overcoming Marbella and Pena Deportiva.
In terms of the league, Valladolid have picked up five points from their last four matches, drawing with Cadiz and Elche, beating Getafe and suffering a 1-0 home defeat to Valencia.
A total of 19 points from 19 matches has left Sergio's side down in 16th position in the table, just two points clear of the relegation zone, and it would not be a surprise to see the team battling in and around the bottom three during the final months of the 2020-21 campaign.
Levante La Liga form: WDWLWD
Levante form (all competitions): WLWWWD
Real Valladolid La Liga form: DLDWLD
Real Valladolid form (all competitions): DWWLWD
Team News
Levante will again be without the services of Jose Campana, Nikola Vukcevic and Rober Pier, but the home side did not pick up any fresh concerns in the draw with Cadiz.
Head coach Lopez is expected to keep faith with the majority of the side that started on Tuesday, with Sergio Leon potentially keeping his spot alongside Marti in the final third of the field.
There could be a change in the middle of the defence, though, with Ruben Vezo possibly replacing Sergio Postigo, while Ruben Rochina is pushing for a spot in midfield.
Valladolid will again be without a number of first-team players on Friday night through a combination of suspension, injury and illness.
Sergi Guardiola, Javi Sanchez, Raul Garcia, Maranhao and Saidy Janko are all still injured, while coronavirus will rule Jota, Waldo Rubio and Jawad El Yamiq out of the contest.
Bruno Gonzalez will be available following a one-game suspension, but Valladolid have now lost Roque Mesa to a ban, with the midfielder picking up a red card against Elche on Tuesday night.
As a result, Sergio does not have many options for change, meaning that the likes of Fabian Orellana, Shon Weissman, Oscar Plano and Kike Perez should again be in the starting side.
Levante possible starting lineup:
Fernandez; Miramon, Vezo, Duarte, Clerc; De Frutos, Radoja, Malsa, Morales; Leon, Marti
Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:
Masip; Perez, Joaquin, Bruno, Martinez; Michel, Fede, Perez; Orellana, Weissman, Plano
We say: Levante 1-0 Real Valladolid
A full-strength Valladolid would fancy their chances of picking up a positive result on Friday, but the visitors will again be without a number of important players. Levante's recent form has been strong, meanwhile, and we fancy the home side to collect all three points courtesy of a narrow success.
