Levante vs Valencia: Derby Fever Grips La Liga

Levante vs Valencia: Derby Fever Grips La Liga as Relegation Battle Intensifies

The city of Valencia is set to be painted in blue and white, and also the distinct shades of the underdog, as fierce rivals Levante and Valencia lock horns in a crucial La Liga encounter on Sunday, February 15th, 2026. This isn't just another fixture; it's a derby steeped in history and, this season, fraught with the grim reality of a relegation battle. Both sides find themselves precariously positioned in the La Liga standings, making this clash at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia a must-win for survival hopes.

The Stakes are Sky-High

As it stands, Valencia find themselves teetering just above the drop zone in 17th place, a mere point ahead of 18th-placed Rayo Vallecano. Levante, meanwhile, are rooted to the bottom of the table in 19th, five points adrift of their city rivals. This deficit underscores the immense pressure on both Luis Castro's Levante and Carlos Corberan's Valencia to secure a victory. For Valencia, avoiding relegation would mean extending their uninterrupted stay in Spain's top flight, a streak stretching back to the 1986-87 campaign. For Levante, the reigning Segunda Division champions, a return to the second tier would be a bitter pill to swallow after their recent promotion.

Levante's Home Struggles and Attacking Promise

Levante enter this derby with a mixed bag of results. While they've shown flashes of attacking brilliance, their defensive frailties have been their undoing. Having conceded 38 goals in 22 league matches, they share the ignominy of the league's worst defensive record with Sevilla. Despite this, manager Luis Castro has seen his side find the net with some regularity, offering a glimmer of hope. However, their home form has been particularly concerning, with a paltry seven points collected from ten matches at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia – the worst home record in the division. Their recent form shows a 4-2 defeat to Athletic Bilbao, but this was preceded by a more encouraging four-point haul from their previous two games against Elche and Atletico Madrid.

Valencia's Inconsistent Campaign

Valencia's season has been characterised by a frustrating lack of consistency. Their most recent outing saw them suffer a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid, a result that further tightened their grip on the relegation places. Los Che have now endured three consecutive defeats across all competitions, a worrying trend for a club accustomed to La Liga stability. Manager Carlos Corberan will be desperately seeking a turnaround in fortunes, and there's no better place to start than by securing a victory against their bitter rivals.

Head-to-Head History Favours Valencia

Historically, the Valencia derby has been dominated by Valencia. In their 39 previous encounters, Los Che have emerged victorious 20 times, compared to Levante's nine wins, with 10 draws. Valencia also secured a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season, adding a psychological edge to their campaign. However, the corresponding fixture in the 2021-22 season saw a thrilling 4-3 win for Valencia, hinting at the potential for goal-laden encounters.

Team News and Potential Lineups

Both sides are grappling with significant absentee lists. Levante will be without Victor Garcia and Roger Brugue due to injuries. Jeremy Toljan and Alan Matturro are suspended after accumulating yellow cards, while Matias Moreno is expected to recover from a head injury to feature in defence. Etta Eyong remains a key attacking threat for Levante amidst transfer speculation.

Valencia welcome back Iker Cordoba and Cristian Rivero from suspension, but Jose Copete is now banned. Arnaut Danjuma and Mouctar Diakhaby are sidelined through injury, and Dimitri Foulquier faces a late fitness test. Hugo Duro and Lucas Beltran are set to lead the line for Valencia, with Javi Guerra a potential starter out wide.

Levante possible starting lineup: Ryan; Moreno, Dela, Elgezabal, Sanchez; Andres, Raghouber; Tunde, Alvarez, Romero; Eyong

Valencia possible starting lineup: Dimitrievski; Correia, Comert, Nunez, Gaya; Rioja, Pepelu, Ugrinic, Guerra; Duro, Beltran

Prediction: A Tense Draw on the Cards?

Given the current form and desperate need for points from both sides, it's difficult to confidently back either team. The pressure of the derby and the gravity of their league positions suggest a cautious approach from both managers. We anticipate a tense, hard-fought encounter where neither side is willing to risk defeat. Therefore, our prediction leans towards a low-scoring draw in this crucial Valencia derby.

We say: Levante 1-1 Valencia