Levante Vs Real Madrid: Los Blancos Aim For Sixth Anniversary Victory, Levante Try To Surprise

JAKARTA - Real Madrid will try to keep their perfect start in the 2025/26 La Liga season against promoted Levante team at the Estadio Ciutat de Valencia on Tuesday, September 23 in the morning WIB. Meanwhile, Levante, who has just returned to the highest caste since 2021/22, hopes to make a surprise after winning his first win against Girona last weekend.

Levante returned to La Liga after winning the Segunda Division last season. However, the start of their journey was not smooth with three successive defeats to Alaves, Barcelona, and Elche. Slowly, Julian Calero's team began to rise. They held Real Betis' draw before a 4-0 win over Girona who played with nine people.

Karl Etta Eyong's goal opened the scoring, followed by Carlos Alvarez, Ivan Romero, and Goduine Koyalipou. This victory became valuable capital for Levante before hosting the Madrid giants at home. They can also take inspiration from the dramatic 3-3 duel against Los Blancos in August 2021.

Levante showed productivity by always scoring at least two goals in the last three of the last four matches. This gives little hope that their front line can test the resilience of Real Madrid's defense, which has so far been solid.

Real Madrid On Fire

On the opposing side, Xabi Alonso underwent a sweet start as Real Madrid's new coach. Los Blancos won six consecutive wins in all competitions, including five in La Liga. Most recently, they beat Espanyol 2-0 through goals from Eder Militao and Kylian Mbappe.

Alonso is now equaling the record of Jose Quirante and Vanderlei Luxembourgo as coaches who were able to win the first five matches in La Liga with Madrid. Not only sharp ahead, Madrid's back line is also disciplined by never conceding more than one goal in six official matches so far.

Even so, Madrid remained vigilant because in the last 10 meetings with Levante, they failed to win six (3 draws, 3 losses). However, the sweet memories of a 6-0 victory in May 2022 through Vinicius Junior's hat-trick could be a motivation in itself.

Levante is in good condition without new injuries. Jon Ander Olasasti has the opportunity to enter the starting XI after appearing as a substitute in the match against Girona. Trio Etta Eyong, Ivan Romero, and Alvarez became the main pillars of the host attack.

On the other hand, Real Madrid lost Trent Alexander-Arnold who was out for 6-8 weeks due to a hamstring injury, followed by Antonio Rudiger and Ferland Mendy who were also injured. However, Dean Huijsen is ready to return after the suspension. Arda Guler and Brahim Diaz are likely to appear as starters, while Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga are likely to get minutes of playing off the bench.

Levante was quite dangerous with a score in four of the first five games of the season, but the quality and depth of the Real Madrid squad were clearly at different levels. Los Blancos are believed to be able to overcome the host's pressure and bring home three points.

Estimated Lineup Of Players

Levante (4-3-3): Ryan; Tolljan, Elgezabal, Moreno, Sanchez; Vencedor, Olasagasti, Rey; Alvarez, Romero, Etta Eyong.

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Carvajal, Huijsen, Militao, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouameni; Diaz, Guler, Vinicius; Mbappe.

Prediction: Levante 1-3 Real Madrid