La Liga Match Prediction: Levante UD vs Athletic Bilbao
Levante UD
Athletic BilbaoMatch result
Levante UD 3:1 Athletic Bilbao (2:0, 1:1)
In Spain. La Liga, the match between Levante UD and Athletic Bilbao ended with a final score of 3:1. The score by periods was 2:0 and 1:1. Our prediction for this match was Handicap 2 (0), and the bet lost.
Our prediction: Handicap 2 (0) at 1.56 — the bet lost.
Levante UD host Athletic Bilbao at Ciudad de Valencia in the sixth round of La Liga. Both teams are in the lower half: Levante have seven points from eight matches, while Athletic have nine from seven. Levante are seventeenth.
Levante UD: attacking output with defensive cost
Levante have gone five league matches without a win, drawing the last two after consecutive defeats. They scored in four matches and conceded in four. The sequence includes a 3:3 home draw with Sevilla, a 2:4 loss to Barcelona and a 1:1 draw at Deportivo de A Coruna. Their only clean sheet was the 0:0 away draw at Malaga.
Levante have one win, one draw and one defeat in three home league matches, scoring ten and conceding nine. Their season record is twelve goals scored and sixteen conceded in eight games; both teams scored in five, and five went over the main goal line. The figures show strong home attacking output alongside unreliable defensive transitions.
Where Levante can hurt Athletic
- Home scoring: ten goals in three league fixtures.
- Recent attacking reliability: goals in four of the last five matches.
- Three draws in the last five, despite no wins.
- Defensive exposure: sixteen goals conceded in the league.
Squad picture and likely approach
Ratkov and Daniel Requena are listed as possible starters. Ettа Eyong may return but is not expected to begin. Hugo Sotelo remains unavailable, and Primo is doubtful. Luis Castro said after the draw with Deportivo that he was dissatisfied with the result but pleased with the team’s progress, indicating an intention to seek a more decisive home performance while maintaining the recent attacking approach.
- Deportivo de A Corunaaway1:1
- Sevillahome3:3
- Villarrealaway1:3
- Barcelonahome2:4
- Malagaaway0:0
Athletic Bilbao: compact defence, limited creation
Athletic are unbeaten in their last five matches, with one win and four draws. Their recent league fixtures include 0:0 against Deportivo Alaves, 0:0 at Rayo Vallecano and 0:0 at Valencia. The only goal in that sequence came in the away win at Real Sociedad, which was a friendly rather than a league match.
Athletic have scored seven and conceded six in seven league matches. Both teams scored in two games, more than two goals were recorded in two, and the defence kept four clean sheets. Their away record is one win, one draw and one defeat, with two goals scored and two conceded. They are eleventh, one place above Villarreal.
Athletic’s strengths and limitations
- Defensive control: four clean sheets in seven league matches.
- Recent resistance: no defeat in five, conceding once in that sequence.
- Away balance: two goals scored and two conceded across three league games.
- Low attacking volume: seven league goals and goals in two of the last five.
Absences and selection changes
Oihan Sancet, Manex Lozano, Alvaro Djaló and defender Unai Egiluz are unavailable through injury. Nico Williams has returned after a muscle problem, while Aymeric Laporte is back after illness. Williams adds a major wide option, but the number of absent attacking and defensive players may restrict the coach’s rotation.
- Valenciaaway0:0
- Rayo Vallecanoaway0:0
- Real Sociedadaway1:0
- Deportivo Alaveshome0:0
- Elchehome1:1
Recent head-to-head pattern
Athletic have won three and drawn one of the last four official meetings, while Levante have not won. The most recent fixture ended 4:2 to Athletic, and the previous meeting in Levante ended 2:0 to the visitors. Across those four matches, Athletic scored nine goals and Levante scored three; the only low-scoring exception was the 0:0 draw in Valencia.
The sample includes different seasons and squads. The current comparison is more relevant: Athletic have defended well recently, while Levante’s latest two home fixtures produced nine goals conceded.
- 08.02.2026Athletic Bilbao4:2Levante UDSpain. La Liga
- 29.11.2025Levante UD0:2Athletic BilbaoSpain. La Liga
- 07.03.2022Athletic Bilbao3:1Levante UDSpain. La Liga
- 19.11.2021Levante UD0:0Athletic BilbaoSpain. La Liga
- 04.03.2021Levante UD1:2Athletic BilbaoSpain Copa del Rey
Team news, motivation and current views
Levante are trying to improve a sequence of five league matches without a win. The coaching staff have highlighted progress despite frustration over the latest draw. Athletic are unbeaten in five, but four matches ended level, making defensive stability a stronger feature of the run than winning momentum.
Athletic’s unavailable group includes Sancet, Lozano, Djaló and Egiluz, while Williams and Laporte have returned to the squad picture. The postponed Athletic fixture against Rayo Vallecano is also part of the recent schedule context. No additional expert opinion or confirmed lineups are available.
Line-ups
Levante UD
Starting XI: 2. Aissa Mandi, 3. Ifeanyi Ndukwe, 6. Daniel Requena, 7. Roger Brugue, 8. Jon Ander Olasagasti, 9. Ivan Romero, 10. Petar Ratkov, 13. Mathew Ryan, 22. Jeremy Toljan, 23. Manuel Sanchez, 24. Thiago Cruz Fernandez
Substitutes: 1. Pablo Cunat, 5. Hugo Sotelo, 11. Yanis Musuayi, 14. Jorge Cabello, 16. Axel Tape, 17. Victor Garcia Raja, 20. Oriol Rey, 21. Karl Etta Eyong, 27. Paco Cortes, 29. Nacho Perez, 32. Alejandro Primo, 33. Marc Santos
Coach: Luis Castro
Athletic Bilbao
Starting XI: 1. Unai Simon, 5. Yeray Alvarez, 7. Alex Berenguer, 14. Aymeric Laporte, 15. Hugo Rincon Lumbreras, 16. Ruiz de Galarreta, 17. Yuri Berchiche, 18. Mikel Jauregizar Alboniga, 21. Maroan Sannadi Harrouch, 23. Robert Navarro, 31. Johaneko Louis-Jean
Substitutes: 3. Daniel Vivian, 4. Aitor Paredes, 6. Benat Prados Diaz, 9. Inaki Williams, 10. Nico Williams, 12. Jesus Areso, 13. Alex Padilla, 20. Alejandro Rego Mora, 22. Nico Serrano, 24. Benat Gerenabarrena, 28. Peio Canales, 33. Christian Imga
Coach: Edin Terzic
Our prediction: protection against a draw
Our pick for Levante UD against Athletic Bilbao at Ciudad de Valencia is Handicap 2 (0) 1.56. Levante have conceded 16 goals in eight league games, compared with Athletic's six in seven. That defensive gap favours the visitors, but their two goals across three away league fixtures make a straight away win less appealing: their attacking output leaves little margin for error.
The draw protection matters here: Athletic's five-match unbeaten run includes a friendly, while four of those games finished level. Nico Williams has returned from a muscle injury, according to media reports, although Oihan Sancet remains unavailable. That improves the visitors' wide options without removing their creative concerns. Athletic have also avoided defeat in all four recent official meetings with Levante. A plausible score is 0:1.
Final call
Handicap 2 (0) 1.56 backs Athletic's defensive advantage without requiring them to turn another close contest into victory. An away win pays out, a draw returns the stake, and a Levante win loses the bet.
Chances by market estimate
Team form
- Deportivo de A Corunaaway1:1
- Sevillahome3:3
- Villarrealaway1:3
- Barcelonahome2:4
- Malagaaway0:0
- Valenciaaway0:0
- Rayo Vallecanoaway0:0
- Real Sociedadaway1:0
- Deportivo Alaveshome0:0
- Elchehome1:1
Standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Osasuna | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 10:18 | 11 |
| 11 | Levante UD | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 15:17 | 10 |
| 12 | Villarreal | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 13:13 | 9 |
| 13 | Athletic Bilbao | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8:9 | 9 |
| 14 | Rayo Vallecano | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 12:17 | 9 |
Head-to-head
- 08.02.2026Athletic Bilbao4:2Levante UDSpain. La Liga
- 29.11.2025Levante UD0:2Athletic BilbaoSpain. La Liga
- 07.03.2022Athletic Bilbao3:1Levante UDSpain. La Liga
- 19.11.2021Levante UD0:0Athletic BilbaoSpain. La Liga
- 04.03.2021Levante UD1:2Athletic BilbaoSpain Copa del Rey
About the match
- 21 October · 14:00 New York
- Venue: Ciudad de Valencia (Valencia), Valensiya
Odds
odds before kick-off
Market view and goal expectations
Athletic are the favourite, but the margin is moderate: the away-win probability is 44%, compared with 28% for both the home win and the draw. The 1X2 line has shown no meaningful movement over the last twenty-four hours, indicating a stable assessment rather than a late shift toward either side.
The goal market is nearly balanced, with a slight preference for Under 2.5 at 51.3% against 48.7% for Over 2.5. BTTS Yes is marginally favoured at 53.5%. Levante’s matches have been open, while Athletic’s recent fixtures have been restrained. The unchanged line indicates that the defensive and attacking trends have already been reflected in the market.
Our prediction
- Market
- Handicap 2 (0)
- Odds
- 1.56
- Confidence
- Our estimate
- 61%
- Market estimate
- 60%
- Stake amount
- 100 $ · 1.56
- Potential win
- 56 $
- Odds at kick-off
- 1.58
- Status
- lost
- Profit
- −100 $