Villarreal welcome Levante to the Estadio de la Cerámica on Sunday evening for a Valencian derby shaped by a first league win for the hosts, a promising opening from the visitors and fresh concern over conditions at Levante’s Ciutat de València.
The seventh-round LaLiga meeting begins at 18:30 local time at Villarreal’s 23,173-capacity home, with Mateo Busquets Ferrer appointed referee and Álvaro Moreno Aragón operating the VAR.
Villarreal arrive after claiming their first league victory of the campaign in Málaga. Coach Iñigo Pérez has urged restraint rather than celebration, telling his players that “it is better to be cautious with the euphoria” and asking them to concentrate on the fundamentals.
Levante, level on points with their regional rivals near the lower end of the table, travel north from Valencia after an encouraging start to the season. Their coach Luís Castro has used the build-up to again raise concerns about supporter safety at the Ciutat de València.
Levante coach raises stadium safety concerns
Castro said Levante have spoken to those responsible, referring to LaLiga, in an effort to prevent a serious incident at their stadium. He said spectators required hospital treatment after the home matches against Real Betis and Barcelona.
“We do not want there to be a tragedy,” Castro said. He argued that the kick-off times for Levante’s first two home fixtures should have been altered because of intense heat, and added that Wednesday’s match against Athletic Club should have been halted earlier when severe weather arrived.
Team news and starting sides
Pérez is without midfielder Santi Comesaña. Levante cannot call on Etta Eyong, Alejandro Primo or Hugo Sotelo.
Villarreal start with Gulácsi in goal, behind a defence of Freeman, Pau Navarro, Renato Veiga and Cardona. Buchanan, Saliba, Gueye and Moleiro form the midfield, while Akhomach and Ayoze lead the attack.
Levante name Ryan as goalkeeper. Toljan, Dela, Mandi and Manu Sánchez make up the back line, with Olasagasti, Oriol Rey and Bardeli in midfield. Brugué, Iván Romero and Thiago Fernández begin in the forward positions.
Villarreal substitutes
Júnior R., Rubén Gómez, Costa, Diatta, Gerard, Foyth, Mikautadze, Mouriño, Maciá, Pepe, Romero and Oluwaseyi.
Levante substitutes
Campos, Ndukwe, Requena, Ratkov, Musuayi, Cabello, Tape, Víctor García, Cortés, Nacho Pérez, Marc Santos and Usedo.
The match is available in Spain through Movistar Plus channels M+ LaLiga, M+ LaLiga HDR, LaLiga TV Bar and LaLiga TV M2.
