Levante vs Osasuna | La Liga Preview
Levante will be desperate for points when they host Osasuna at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia on Thursday evening, with both sides occupying contrasting positions in La Liga's final stretch. The hosts find themselves in the relegation zone in 19th place with just 33 points, while Osasuna sit comfortably in mid-table with 42 points from their 34 matches.
Recent form tells a stark tale of two teams heading in opposite directions. Levante's season has been characterized by inconsistency, managing just eight wins from 34 outings and struggling particularly on the road with only three away victories. Their goal scoring has been anemic, netting just 38 times while conceding 55, giving them a worrying negative goal difference of minus 17. Osasuna, meanwhile, have shown greater resilience despite their own inconsistencies. They've secured 11 wins and have been notably stronger at home, where they've collected 32 of their 42 points with nine victories from 17 matches.
The injury situation heavily favors the visitors heading into this crucial encounter. Levante will be without several key players, including C. Alvarez and I. Romero through injury, while K. Arriaga misses out due to suspension after accumulating yellow cards. A. Primo is also sidelined with a shoulder problem. Perhaps more concerning are the fitness doubts surrounding Dela, U. Elgezabal, and K. Tunde, all listed as questionable with various muscle and knee issues. This injury crisis could not have come at a worse time for a side already struggling near the bottom. Osasuna have just one confirmed absentee in V. Munoz, who remains out with a muscle injury.
The historical head-to-head record strongly favors Osasuna in recent meetings between these sides. In their last encounter in December 2025, Osasuna secured a comfortable 2-0 victory at home, extending their recent dominance in this fixture. Looking back further, Osasuna have won three of the last five meetings, with Levante managing just one victory back in September 2020 when they won 3-1 away from home. The other meeting ended in a goalless draw. This psychological advantage could prove crucial given Levante's current predicament.
Both teams have shown a preference for the 4-2-3-1 formation this season, with Levante using it in 11 of their matches and Osasuna deploying it 19 times. This tactical similarity should make for an intriguing battle in midfield, though Osasuna's superior away record of late suggests they're better equipped to adapt their game plan when required.
The absence of a named referee makes it difficult to assess how the match officials might influence proceedings, but given the stakes involved for Levante, this could become a fractious affair. The hosts will likely throw everything forward in search of precious points, potentially leaving themselves exposed to Osasuna's counter-attacking threat.
With Levante's injury problems mounting and their confidence fragile after spending much of the season in the relegation zone, Osasuna appear well-positioned to claim all three points. The visitors' superior away form this season, combined with their psychological edge from recent meetings, should see them secure a vital victory that could effectively seal Levante's relegation fate. Expect Osasuna to win 2-0.