🔈 Can the league newcomers surprise Spanish football fans? Alaves don't appear to be a formidable opponent for last season's Segunda champions. The "Babazorros" narrowly avoided relegation in the previous La Liga campaign, and it's uncertain whether Eduardo Coudet can extract more from the team. Nevertheless, bookmakers are leaning on the teams' experience and predict a victory for Alaves. This outcome is given odds of 2.2.

Head-to-Head

📊 Over the last 10 head-to-head encounters, there's a balance: Alaves and Levante each have 3 wins, with 4 matches ending in a draw. However, Levante, known as "the Frogs," remain unbeaten in regulation time in their last 6 meetings with Alaves. Reviewing the entire head-to-head history, we observe the average scoring rates: Alaves – 1.46 goals per game, Levante – 0.97.

Deportivo Alaves Team Overview

🔵 Alaves secured their spot in the top flight for the 2025/26 season thanks to an impressive finish last season. Notably, in their final seven matches, the "Bean Destroyers" suffered only one defeat. Eduardo Coudet gave both the fans and club management a sigh of relief, earning him his first full season at the helm of the Vitoria-Gasteiz side. During their preseason preparations, the "Glorious" managed two wins, one draw, and two losses.

⚪ The club's work in the transfer market is particularly noteworthy. They brought in Pablo Ibanez (from Osasuna), Otto Johnnie (from PAOK), Raul Fernandez (from Mirandes), and Mariano Diaz (from Sevilla) as free agents. Additionally, they secured permanent deals for Carles Alena (from Getafe) and Castilla defender Youssef Enriquez. These ongoing active moves in the market were made possible after profitable sales of Roberto Panicelli and Santiago Mourinho, which brought in over €20 million collectively. 

Levante UD Team Overview

🔴 Levante are rightly considered the most promising newcomers to La Liga. The team deservedly clinched the Segunda Division title last season, earning their promotion. Julián Calero did an excellent job at the helm and now, at 54, makes his debut in La Liga as a head coach. Levante's preseason preparations were encouraging, with 3 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss.

⚫ The "Frogs" were quite active in the transfer market, making significant efforts to bolster their squad ahead of the season. Incoming transfers include Kervin Arriaga, Víctor García, Jeremy Toljan, Alan Matturro, Jon Ander Olasagasti, Manu Sánchez, and Godwin Koyalipou. Now, Julián Calero faces the challenge of finding balance in the roster and fitting all the necessary players onto the pitch.

Latest news

Deportivo Alaves

📣 Recently, rumors have intensified regarding Carlos Vicente's potential departure from the club. According to several sources, the Spanish winger has caught the interest of Russian side Krasnodar. However, Alaves' sporting director has not confirmed any concrete negotiations between the clubs: "We have not received any offers from Krasnodar for Vicente. His departure is impossible." It's worth noting that Carlos Vicente is one of Alaves' key players, having notched up a 5+5 record last season in La Liga.

🎤 Ahead of the debut match in the new season, Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera shared his expectations: "It was a very productive preseason. The plan is very clear: the coach wants a very strong team from a physical standpoint. It's also a great honor for me to have such an experienced goalkeeper like Raul Fernandez in the team. A person with his experience always brings value. We get along very well and will certainly learn a lot from him."

❌ Alaves approach their opening match of the championship with an optimal lineup, which is certainly pleasing for the club's coaching staff.

Levante UD

🎤 Following the final friendly match, Levante forward Sergio Lozano shared a few thoughts with the press: "We kept a clean sheet in five out of six matches, which speaks volumes about the team's commitment. We must maintain this momentum because we need to reach our goal as soon as possible. We are eager to repay our fans with performances on the pitch."

❌ Levante's injury list includes newcomers Kervin Arriaga and Jon Ander Olasagasti, along with Alfonso Pastor. The participation of Carlos Alvarez, Godwin Koyalipou, Alan Matturro, and Matias Moreno in the upcoming match remains uncertain.

🟨 Prediction for Yellow Cards

🟨 Prediction for Yellow Cards

Head-to-head clashes between Alaves and Levante have consistently featured tough, physical football with a high number of fouls. The average number of yellow cards stands at around 6.1 per match. It's also worth noting the average number of bookings in games involving the "Glorious" last season was 5.6. A reasonable choice here is over 4.5 total yellow cards.

⚽ Prediction for Goals

In the last 5 head-to-head meetings between Alaves and Levante, no more than 2 goals were scored. Most recent matches for both teams have followed a similar trend. Both the "Glorious" and the "Frogs" are unlikely to take unnecessary risks with points on the line in the opening round. Therefore, the editorial choice is under 2.5 total goals.

🚩 Prediction for Corners

It's notable that in 5 out of Alaves' last 7 matches, there were at least 11 corner kicks. A similar trend holds for 4 of Levante's last 5 games. The history of their head-to-head encounters also boasts a solid number of corners, averaging around 10.2 per match. We'll go with over 9.5 total corners.

It's quite unclear on what grounds Alaves significantly outshines Levante. Our editorial team anticipates a balanced match, with periods where the "Frogs" might even have the upper hand. Their excellent set-piece play and well-rounded squad bolster the Valencia side's status. We predict a final score of 0-1, with the key bet being Levante not to lose.