By e360hubs Sports Desk | September 21, 2025
On Tuesday, September 23, the Estadi Ciutat de València will host a classic David vs. Goliath showdown as Levante UD welcomes Real Madrid in Round 6 of the 2025/26 LaLiga season. This marks the first midweek fixture of the campaign, intensifying the pressure on both sides amid a congested schedule. Levante, teetering just above the relegation zone with four points from five games, desperately needs a morale-boosting home win after their emphatic 4-0 thrashing of Girona last time out. A victory would catapult the Granotas to seven points, providing crucial breathing room in the survival scrap. However, a loss could plunge them back into the drop zone, exposing their fragile defense.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, are in imperious form under new manager Xabi Alonso, unbeaten across all competitions with six straight wins, including a flawless start in LaLiga and a 2-1 Champions League victory over Olympique Marseille. The former Bayer Leverkusen tactician's side sits atop the table with maximum points, eyeing a seventh consecutive triumph to maintain their buffer over rivals Barcelona. As clear favorites, Los Blancos must balance dominance with energy management, with a fiery Madrid derby against Atletico on Saturday and a European tie against Kairat Almaty looming on September 30.
This preview combines recent form analysis, tactical insights, head-to-head history, and betting angles to dissect whether Levante's home passion can disrupt Real Madrid's relentless machine. With the gulf in class evident, expect fireworks in Valencia.
Levante's Recent Form and Key Stats: Momentum Amid Defensive Woes
Levante enters this bout riding high after their first win of the season—a stunning 4-0 demolition of Girona, courtesy of strikes from Etta Eyong, Carlos Alvarez, Iván Romero, and Mohamed Koyalipou. Under coach Julián Calero (formerly known as Fernandez in squad rotations), this result snapped a dismal run of one draw and three defeats in the opening four rounds, injecting much-needed confidence into a squad battling relegation shadows.
In LaLiga so far, Levante's goal ratio stands at an average of 1.0 goals scored per match against 2.33 conceded, highlighting a team that can flash attacking intent but crumbles under pressure defensively.[2] Their five matches have seen an average of 3.33 total goals, with four exceeding the 2.5 line— a trend that underscores vulnerability but also opportunistic scoring. At home, it's been tougher: just one point from two games (a 2-2 draw with Real Betis and a 3-2 loss to Barcelona), conceding five goals while netting four.
Levante's Top Scorers (2025/26 LaLiga – After 5 Games):
Player | Goals | Assists |
---|---|---|
Iván Romero | 4 | 1 |
Etta Eyong | 4 | 0 |
Jeremy Toljan | 4 | 1 |
José Luis Morales | 4 | 2 |
Romero and Eyong lead the charge, embodying Levante's counter-attacking threat, but the team's form (W-D-D-W-L) suggests inconsistency could prove fatal against elite opposition.
Team news is grim: Key defender Carlos González and midfielder Vicente Iborra remain sidelined with long-term injuries, forcing reliance on youth and depth players. This injury crisis amplifies their defensive frailties, as Levante has shipped 2.25 goals per game on average.[0]
Real Madrid's Recent Form and Key Stats: Perfection in Pursuit of Greatness
Real Madrid couldn't ask for a smoother start under Alonso, who has transformed Los Blancos into a high-pressing, fluid unit. Their latest LaLiga outing was a clinical 2-0 shutout of Espanyol (goals from Éder Militão and Kylian Mbappé), capping a run of five league wins and one Champions League victory. Averaging exactly 2.0 goals scored per game while conceding just 0.5, Madrid's ratio exemplifies balance: lethal up top, rock-solid at the back with three clean sheets already.[5]
Away form is particularly ominous—three straight LaLiga road wins this season (including 3-0 at Oviedo and 2-0 at San Sebastián), extending a streak of six victories in seven away league games. Four of their last five matches have surpassed 2.5 goals, blending defensive stinginess with explosive attacks. Form guide: W-W-W-W-W.
Real Madrid's Top Scorers (2025/26 LaLiga – After 5 Games):
Player | Goals | Assists |
---|---|---|
Kylian Mbappé | 5 | 3 |
Arda Güler | 4 | 2 |
Federico Valverde | 4 | 1 |
Vinícius Júnior | 3 | 4 |
Mbappé's red-hot streak (three goals in his last two games) spearheads the assault, supported by Güler's emergence and Vinícius's dynamism.
Injuries bite here too: Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender David Alaba are out long-term, while Aurélien Tchouaméni is a precautionary doubt ahead of the derby. This opens doors for squad rotation, potentially featuring Arda Güler or Dean Huijsen.
Head-to-Head: A Lopsided Legacy
Historically, Real Madrid dominate Levante, winning 20 of 30 meetings, with Levante claiming six victories and four draws.[22] The last encounter in the 2021/22 season (Levante's final top-flight year) was goal-laden: a 3-3 thriller at Ciutat de València and a 6-0 Bernabéu rout. This season's reverse fixture saw Madrid prevail 5-1, extending their scoring streak to 28 consecutive games against the Granotas.
Last Five Head-to-Head Clashes:
Date | Competition | Home Team | Score | Away Team |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aug 2025 | LaLiga | Real Madrid | 5-1 | Levante |
May 12, 2022 | LaLiga | Real Madrid | 6-1 | Levante |
Aug 22, 2021 | LaLiga | Levante | 3-3 | Real Madrid |
Jan 30, 2021 | LaLiga | Levante | 1-2 | Real Madrid |
Oct 4, 2020 | LaLiga | Real Madrid | 0-1 | Levante |
Madrid have won four of these, scoring at least three goals in three, but Levante's last win (2020) shows rare upset potential. Overall, Real have triumphed in 11 straight across competitions since Levante's 2-2 draw in 2020.[23]
Tactical Overview and Prediction: Open, High-Scoring Affair?
Tactically, Alonso's Madrid will seek early control, pressing high to exploit Levante's backline woes while conserving legs for the derby. Expect a 4-4-2 diamond with Vinícius and Mbappé stretching defenses on transitions. Levante, in a compact 4-4-2, will counter via Eyong and Romero, banking on home fervor to frustrate.
The stats scream goals: Levante's home games average 4.5 total tallies; Madrid's aways hit 2.5 scored. Four of each team's last five matches cleared 2.5 goals. Per BetMines, Real Madrid win probability is 62%, with Over 2.5 at 55%.[21]
Probable Lineups:
Levante (4-4-2): Ryan; Toljan, Ulguezabal, Moreno, M. Sanchez; C. Alvarez, Vencedor, Rey, Brugué; Eyong, I. Romero. Coach: Calero
Real Madrid (4-4-2): Courtois (or Lunin); Carvajal, Asencio, Militão, Carreras; Mastantuono, Valverde, Tchouaméni, Vinícius Jr.; G. Garcia, Mbappé. Coach: Alonso
Exact Score Prediction: Levante 1-3 Real Madrid. A professional away win, but Levante nicks a consolation amid an open contest.
Betting Preview and Tips
Pre-game odds reflect the mismatch: Levante win 14/1, Draw 13/2, Real Madrid win 1/6 (subject to change).
- Tip 1: Real Madrid to Win – Unassailable form and H2H dominance make this a banker.
- Tip 2: Over 2.5 Goals – Both sides' trends (80% Over rate in recent games) point to fireworks.[20]
- Tip 3: Both Teams to Score – No – Madrid's away clean sheets (three this season) suggest a shutout.
Levante's spirit will shine, but Real Madrid's class should prevail in a spectacle worthy of LaLiga's drama. Tune in for what promises to be an unforgettable evening in Valencia.
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