Levante will host Alaves for the second leg of their Segunda Division playoff final on Saturday night, with the tie delicately poised following a goalless draw in their first meeting last weekend.
A cagey first leg failed to produce a goal, but there will have to be a winner this time around, with the two sides battling to secure a return to Spain's top flight for the 2023-24 campaign.
Match preview
© Reuters
Levante were relegated from La Liga last season courtesy of their 19th-place finish, but they have not spent back-to-back campaigns in the second tier since 2010.
The Frogs ended the regular season in third position in the table, only missing out on automatic promotion to Las Palmas on goal difference, with the two teams level on the head-to-head record.
Levante were paired with Albacete in the semi-finals of the playoffs and comfortably progressed to the final, recording a 3-1 victory in the away fixture before running out 3-0 winners at home four days later.
Javier Calleja's side were unable to gain an advantage in terms of the scoreline in the first leg, but a draw in the away fixture has to be considered a successful result, and they will be aiming to make it a third straight home success in the second leg of the final this weekend.
Los Azulgranas actually beat Alaves 2-0 home and away during the regular season, and they are the form team at this moment in time, winning four and drawing two of their last six matches.
© Reuters
Alaves, meanwhile, ended the regular season in fourth position in the table, one point behind second-placed Las Palmas, also coming incredibly close to securing automatic promotion.
Like Levante, the Blue and Whites were relegated from La Liga last season, finishing in 20th position, so they are also looking to bounce back to the top level at the first time of asking.
Luis Garcia's side had a tricky semi-final against a talented Eibar, drawing the first leg 1-1 away from home before managing to record a 2-0 victory in the second leg to progress to the final.
El Glorioso are actually without a victory in their last five matches on their travels, while they have won just one of their eight games away from their own supporters, which is a slightly concerning record ahead of this game.
Alaves have also only won one of their last seven matches against Levante, which proved to be a 2-1 home success when the two teams locked horns in La Liga during the 2021-22 campaign.
Team News
© Reuters
Levante remain without the services of Jose Campana and Pablo Martinez due to long-term knee injuries, but the home side have not reported any fresh fitness problems.
As a result, it would not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field from the first leg, with Joni Montiel and Jorge de Frutos operating in the wide positions.
Mohamed Bouldini has been the team's main source of goals this season, finding the back of the net on eight occasions, and he is set to continue in the final third alongside Brugui.
As for Alaves, head coach Garcia has a decision to make at centre-forward, with Mamadou Sylla starting the first leg before being substituted for Asier Villalibre just before the hour.
Villalibre could now get the nod at centre-forward, with Luis Rioja, who is the team's leading goalscorer this season with 10, featuring on the left.
The visitors also have no injury concerns from the first leg, but Salva Sevilla and Nikola Maras remain unavailable for selection due to leg and knee issues respectively.
Levante possible starting lineup:
Femenias; Pubill, Postigo, Pier, Munoz; Montiel, Iborra, Pepelu, De Frutos; Bouldini, Brugui
Alaves possible starting lineup:
Sivera; Tenaglia, Abqar, Sedlar, Duarte; Moya, Benavidez, Guridi; Rioja, Villalibre, Rebbach
We say: Levante 2-1 Alaves
It would not be a surprise to see this match go all the way to penalties, but we are expecting Levante to triumph in the second leg. The home side have been excellent in recent weeks and should have just enough in front of their own supporters to secure a return to Spain's top flight for the 2023-24 campaign.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
