Villarreal vs Levante UD 20 September 2026 Prediction

The teams enter the Valencia derby under unusual circumstances. Villarreal earned its first league win in the sixth round, beating Malaga 3-1 away, while Levante did not play in midweek after Levante vs Athletic Bilbao was postponed because of heavy rain and a waterlogged field. The hosts will now play their second match in less than 72 hours, while Luis Castro’s team had a full week to prepare.

Villarreal Finally Earned Its First Win

Last season’s third-place finisher endured a much more difficult start than expected. Iñigo Perez’s team failed to win any of its first five league matches and also lost 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. The breakthrough came on Thursday. Villarreal conceded first against Malaga but took control before halftime and completed a 3-1 win after the break. Perez described the victory as vital for the team. It ended Villarreal’s poor run and eased some of the pressure on the players and coaching staff ahead of their return to Estadio de la Ceramica.

There were also positive changes in attack. Alberto Moleiro operated effectively in a central attacking role against Malaga, Ilias Akhomach consistently created danger from the wing, and substitute Pape Gueye scored twice. However, the win came with another injury concern. Santi Comesaña took a heavy blow to the ankle, was substituted, and left the stadium on crutches. Summer signing Nathan Saliba could replace him in midfield. Villarreal has had little time to recover, so Perez is likely to rotate his lineup.

Levante Has an Extra Rest Advantage

Levante has five points from five matches, with inconsistent results under Luis Castro. After a 3-0 loss to Espanyol, Levante kept clean sheets in goalless draws against Osasuna and Malaga. Between those matches, the team recorded a surprising 5-2 win over Real Betis. Levante lost its most recent game 4-2 to Barcelona but responded after falling 3-0 behind, with Ivan Romero and Roger Brugué scoring. Castro praised his team’s response and said it maintained its playing identity against one of the league’s strongest opponents. Levante has shown that it can produce strong individual performances, but it has yet to do so consistently.

Levante gained an unexpected recovery advantage before the derby. Wednesday’s Levante vs Athletic Bilbao match was called off shortly before kickoff after heavy rain left the field unplayable. Castro’s team therefore avoided a midweek fixture and will face Villarreal after seven days without a competitive match. The main absence is Hugo Sotelo, an important central midfielder. Etta Eyong and Alejandro Primo are also unavailable because of injuries. Despite the additional rest, Castro’s lineup options remain limited.

Villarreal vs Levante Predicted Lineup

Villarreal (4-4-2): Gulacsi; Mourinho, Costa, Veiga, K. Romero; Pepe, Saliba, Gueye, Buchanan; Moreno, Mikautadze

Doubtful: Foyth, Comesaña

Manager: Iñigo Perez

Levante (4-1-4-1): Ryan; Nacho Perez, Dela, Mandi, Sanchez; Rey; Brugué, Bardeli, Olasagasti, Fernandez; I. Romero

Unavailable: Primo, Eyong, Sotelo (injured)

Manager: Luis Castro

Villarreal vs Levante Prediction: Villarreal Handicap -1.5

Main prediction: Villarreal ended its winless run with a 3-1 victory over Malaga and will look to build on that result at home. Levante has been a favorable opponent for Villarreal, which won the previous two competitive head-to-head meetings at home by scores of 5-1 and 5-0. Castro’s team is also winless away in the league this season, recording goalless draws against Osasuna and Malaga and suffering a 3-0 loss to Espanyol. Given the difference in quality and Villarreal’s strong home record in this matchup, the main selection is Villarreal -1.5 at 2.20.

Goals prediction: Levante has struggled to create scoring chances away from home. The team has failed to score in all three league road games, losing 3-0 to Espanyol and drawing 0-0 with Osasuna and Malaga. The recent head-to-head record follows a similar pattern. Levante has scored only twice in its last five meetings with Villarreal, including two friendlies. Based on the visitors’ away scoring record, the selection is Levante team total under 0.5 goals at 2.45.