Levante vs Athletic Club - La Liga

Levante prepare to host Athletic Club at the home ground on September 16, 2026, with both sides eager to assert their credentials and claim a result that could define their La Liga season. Manchester United drew 1-1 with Paris Saint-Germain in their fourth pre-season fixture of the summer on Saturday.

Levante head into the contest positioned 13th in the La Liga standings, while Athletic Club arrive sitting 9th. The hosts have found wins hard to come by, LDWDL across their last five telling the story of a win rate of 20%. The visitors have been a steady presence on the road, D in their last five and a campaign win rate of 40%. The contrast in attacking output — 1.4 versus 1.4 goals per game — adds an extra layer of intrigue. The midfielder faces a significant period on the sidelines after being stretchered off during Uruguay's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the recent FIFA World Cup.

Wing play is likely to be central to the contest. Levante will look to stretch the pitch and isolate their wide attackers, while Athletic Club must find a way to compress the space and choke the supply lines. Schalke had only 17 per cent of the possession but, having visited the club to interview their charismatic coach Miron Muslic, that is hardly a surprise.

The fixture boasts genuine star quality. With Raphinha topping the La Liga scoring charts at 6 goals, the stage is set for the kind of individual brilliance that can swing a contest. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. Tottenham have made contact over a sensational move for Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo as Roberto De Zerbi continues his ambitious summer rebuild.

With the sides closely matched, the outcome may well hinge on which team takes its chances on the day. On balance, Athletic Club may just have enough to take all three points. A 1-2 away win would not be a shock. With the standings tight and form on the line, this is a fixture neither side will want to lose. In terms of outgoings, Perri seems closest to an exit, but that will likely have to wait until Trafford's mandated holiday after the World Cup is over or a No 2 arrives.