Levante are staring down the barrel in their fight to stay up, and this clash with Getafe on April 13 could define their season. They're battling it out at the bottom of La Liga, and facing a side that's suddenly clicking into gear won't make things easier.
Getafe have been on a roll, racking up four wins from their last five outings. That includes a gritty 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao just over a week ago and a 2-1 away win at Espanyol back in March. It's put them eighth in the table with 41 points from 30 games, eyeing a spot in the Champions League qualifiers. And while Levante have managed two wins and two draws in their own last five, that single loss highlights their inconsistency, especially with them sitting 19th on just 26 points.
History offers Levante a sliver of hope, though. Their last meeting with Getafe ended in a 1-1 draw this season, and they've not lost at home to these opponents in La Liga since 2012. But let's not kid ourselves—Getafe's current form suggests they won't roll over.
Injuries are biting hard for both teams. Levante will miss Roger Brugué for the rest of the campaign due to a knee injury, and Unai Elgezabal's doubtful status adds to the headaches. At least Matias Moreno is back fit. Over at Getafe, it's a bigger blow: Mauro Arambarri's suspended after picking up his fifth yellow, Juanmi and Borja Mayoral are both out with injuries, including Mayoral's knee problem. That means Luis Milla might have to step up, even with a suspension risk hanging over him.
Expected lineups point to Levante in a 4-2-3-1 setup and Getafe opting for 3-4-1-2, according to Whoscored. Keep an eye on Carlos Espí for Levante; he's their top scorer with seven goals and could be the spark they need. Getafe might lean on Luis Milla, who's been rated highly at 7.05, but without Arambarri's six goals, they'll have to dig deep.
With Levante deep in a relegation scrap and Getafe chasing European football, this one's got real edge. I expect Getafe to edge it based on their momentum.
They've got the quality to break through, so here's where I'd put my money.
Recommended Bets
Bet 1 @ 1.80 — Getafe to win; they're in sizzling form with four wins in five, while Levante's defense has leaked 50 goals already.
Bet 2 @ 1.90 — Under 2.5 goals; both sides have modest scoring records, with Getafe on 27 goals in 30 games and Levante not faring much better.
Bet 3 @ 3.00 — Carlos Espí to score anytime; as Levante's leading marksman with seven goals, he should get chances in this must-win game for his team.
Odds tend to shorten closer to kickoff — lock in value now.
HOME_PLAYER: Carlos Espí HOME_LOOK: not found in search AWAY_PLAYER: Mauro Arambarri AWAY_LOOK: not found in search
