Levante vs Athletic Club
FreeWe’re always looking for new recruits to help us so please click here if you want to find out more about the ways you can help us (e.g. local input, watching games)!
There are 2 bankers and 5 value tips in the Members Section today so feel free to sign up here to see them + team news!
Today’s free tip is in the Spanish Primera Liga encounter between Levante and Athletic Club.
I always find games of this nature really weird because this is the exact fixture that will be played next week, and it’ll matter far more than than it does now with little on the table for either team in the Primera Liga, but a place in the Copa del Rey final awaiting the winner of next week’s second leg. Athletic need to win that game too, having drawn 1-1 in Bilbao. I always just end up wondering if teams make a secret pact to play out a ‘neutral’ fixture ahead of the far bigger event, neither team wanting to lose any players for the game, and neither wanting to show their hand either.
That superstitious nonsense aside though, we should see goals tonight. Levante have been one of Spain’s more entertaining teams over the past few years, always looking to play boldly, and usually recording favourable results for a club with limited funds. Don’t be fooled, though – they’re very flexible, Levante, and can turn on their defensive charm when they want to. They’re good at most things nowadays, really. Beating them requires a lot of planning, stamina, and good finishing!
The problem for the hosts tonight is that they’re short of big players. I appreciate that almost forgotten centre-back Duarte has managed to stay fit this season, for the most part, and that’s a bonus. However, key Portuguese defender Vezo is out tonight, as is veteran defender Postigo, and that’s a bit too much for Levante really. Their attacking game won’t be influenced by such, but their defensive capabilities will be. Missing two of their bigger defenders against one of the biggest teams in the Primera Liga, who specialise in scoring from crosses and set pieces? Ouch.
I understand why folk are backing the visitors here too because North Macedonia midfielder Bardhi, a set piece specialist, and creator Melero are both out too. I’m not worried though. I know that Marti and Leon have been around for long enough up front to hurt Athletic tonight, especially with unbelievably classy Morales and Rochina in support. It’s not so hard to score against an attack-minded Marcelino team anyway; it’s generally just hard to outsmart and outscore them! Levante should have some joy in the final third tonight either way though.
The above is especially true because Athletic’s most naturally defence-minded midfielder, Dani Garcia, is out. He’s their engine in the middle of the park; the best they’ve got for stopping teams getting at their back four. Vesga can do a job there but I fear it’ll be too easy for Levante with Garcia out. No, I believe this match will be decided on how good Athletic are in the final third. They’re going to have lots of joy from set pieces, especially with Raul Garcia on the pitch, and lots of talented drifters to feed him the ball in the right way at the right time. Their excellent attack-minded full-backs will contribute too.
Marcelino’s teams are never far away from scoring goals. Don’t ask me how he’s done at Los Leones because I can’t answer you; this team is lacking in a good striker, and has been for a long time now. Every other manager has felt that – but not Marcelino. This team looks far more confident and creative than they have in ages when it comes to attacking teams, and facing Levante minus Postigo and Vezo has got to encourage them to attack, especially with Dani Garcia out.
I have a natural leaning for Athletic here but backing both teams to score at 4/5 appeals to me more.
Verdict: Both teams to score at 4/5.
Friday’s Thoughts
As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts. For confidence ratings, you’ll need to go to the members section here.
Australian A-League:
Perth Glory vs Brisbane Roar
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Sporting Charleroi vs Racing Genk
Bulgarian A PFG:
Lokomotiv Plovdiv vs Etar
Croatian Prva Liga:
Varazdin vs NK Osijek
Czechia Liga 1:
Slovan Liberec vs Pardubice
Danish Superligaen:
Vejle vs AC Horsens
French Ligue 1:
Stade Rennais vs OGC Nice
German Bundesliga:
Werder Bremen vs Eintracht Frankfurt
German Bundesliga 2:
Darmstadt 98 vs Karlsruher SC
Jahn Regensburg vs Paderborn 07
Hungarian Liga 1:
Diosgyori VTK vs Mezokovesd-Zsory
Italian Serie B:
Reggiana vs Salernitana
Empoli vs Venezia
Dutch Eredivisie:
PEC Zwolle vs SC Heerenveen
Portuguese Liga 1:
Vitoria Guimaraes vs Boavista
Portuguese Liga 2:
Chaves vs Vizela
Spanish Primera Liga:
Levante vs Athletic Club
Swiss Challenge League:
Chiasso vs FC Wil
SC Kriens vs Neuchatel Xamax
FC Thun vs Stade Lausanne-Ouchy
Aarau vs Winterthur
Turkish Super Lig:
Konyaspor vs Gazisehir Gaziantep
Genclerbirligi vs Yeni Malatyaspor
Besiktas JK vs Denizlispor
Enjoy your free betting tips!