Match Overview: Oviedo vs Levante

On October 4th, Real Oviedo will face Levante in a captivating Matchday 8 fixture at the iconic Estadio Carlos Tartiere. This preview offers an in-depth analysis, expert predictions, betting odds, and key statistics for the Oviedo vs Levante encounter.

Real Oviedo’s Current Form

Recent Performance

Real Oviedo recently broke a three-match losing streak in by securing a 2-1 victory against Valencia in their last outing. This crucial win marks only their second triumph since returning to the top flight (alongside five defeats), enabling them to climb out of the relegation zone and occupy the 14th spot in the league standings. Notably, Veljko Paunović’s squad is one of only two teams in the current championship, alongside Real Madrid, who have not drawn a single match. At home this season, Oviedo has lost two of their three fixtures, registering just one victory. 

Key Statistics for Oviedo

• The club has failed to keep a clean sheet in six out of their seven league matches this season.
• The team has scored more than one goal in only one of their seven Primera Division encounters this term.
• Exactly one goal has been scored in the first half of all three of Oviedo’s home matches in the current campaign.

Oviedo’s Predicted Starting Lineup (4-3-3)*

Expected XI

Aarón Escandell – Rahim Alhassan, Dani Calvo, David Carmo, Lucas Aihado – Santiago Colombatto, Leander Dendoncker, Alberto Reina – Josip Brekalo, Federico Viñas, Hessem Hassan. 

Team News: Suspensions

Midfielder Luka Ilić will be unavailable due to suspension.

Levante’s Performance Analysis

Recent Form

Levante, the Valencian side, drew 1-1 in their previous match against Getafe. This result means the club has failed to secure a win in six of their seven league games this season (two draws, four losses), conceding goals in all six of those fixtures. With these statistics, Levante currently sits in 15th place in the Primera Division standings, trailing Oviedo by a single point. It’s worth noting that their sole victory in the current season came on the road, where they impressively routed Girona 4-0. 

Key Statistics for Levante

• Both teams have scored in five out of Levante’s seven league matches this season.
• At least three goals have been scored in five out of Levante’s seven games in the current tournament campaign.
• Away from home, the team has conceded in 10 of their last 11 Primera Division matches, allowing at least two goals in six of those games.

Levante’s Predicted Starting Lineup (4-4-2)*

Expected XI

Mathew Ryan – Jeremy Toljan, Adrián de la Fuente, Matías Moreno, Manu Sánchez – Kervin Arriaga, Unai Vencedor, Carlos Álvarez Rivera, Roger Brugué – Karl Etta-Eyong, Iván Romero.

Match Prediction: Oviedo vs Levante

Home Team Advantage

In the previous round, the hosts secured a sensational away victory over Valencia in a rescheduled championship fixture, scoring goals in the 85th and 86th minutes. Interestingly, prior to this, Oviedo had only managed to score two goals in six league games this season. It’s also worth noting that the club has lost two of their three home matches since returning to , but these defeats came against Spanish giants – Real Madrid (0-3) and Barcelona (1-3). Conversely, they managed to defeat a strong opponent like Real Sociedad with a 1-0 score. Levante, in the current championship, is performing at a similar level to Real Sociedad, having accumulated an identical five points. Such an opponent should be well within the hosts’ capabilities. 

Away Form and Game Expectation

Moreover, the Valencian side themselves have not been particularly impressive in their away league matches. Excluding their victorious encounter against Girona, where Levante played most of the game with a two-player advantage, they earned only one point from their other three away fixtures, conceding in each of them. However, I do not anticipate a goal-fest in the upcoming match. The pressure of a crucial result will weigh heavily on both teams, as they are both hovering near the relegation zone. I expect a tight, hard-fought game with plenty of midfield battles, which is unlikely to lead to a high-scoring affair. 

Historical Head-to-Head & Final Pick

Furthermore, the statistics from their recent head-to-head encounters also point towards a low-scoring match. No more than two goals were scored in six of their previous eight meetings in the Segunda Division. My prediction is “Total Under 2.5 Goals” with odds of 1.68. * The starting lineup listed for each team reflects their formation in their last match in this tournament.