Valencia Vs Levante: Hot Derby In Mestalla, Can Los Che Finally Break Eggs?

Lucas Beltran, leads Valencia at home (photo; x @valenciacf)

JAKARTA - Valencia and Levante are again struggling with each other in the Valencia Derby on Friday night November 21, a match that brings together two teams that both need additional oxygen at the bottom of La Liga. Valencia, who are stranded in 17th position, has only collected 10 points from 12 matches, while Levante is just below it with nine points. Both teams came with a difficult season' vibes, but derby always has its own energy.

Valencia haven't won La Liga in more than two months. Their record this season: two wins, four draws, six losses. The only positive momentum comes from a 5-0 win in the Copa del Rey over Maracena late October. Ahead of the international break, Los Che drew 1-1 against Real Betis. Not spectacular, but enough to give a little breath and maybe, became a stepping stone to bounce back.

Valencia and Levante have clashed 38 times. Valencia are far ahead with 21 wins, nine draws, and only eight defeats. The last time they met was April 2022 and ended 1-1. Levante himself has never won in Mestalla in history. Derby is not just a game, but also about tradition and pressure.

In the Levante camp, the name that is going viral is of course Etta Eyong. The young Cameroonian player has scored a number of goals and is now being hunted by giant clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal, Real Madrid, to Barcelona. But despite scoring 16 goals from 12 matches, Levante is also easy to leak with a total of 23 goals conceded. They have a 'attack' style first, think later'.

Valencia is still without Mouctar Diakhaby who has a hamstring injury. Dimitri Houlquier and Filip Ugrinic are also almost certainly absent. Largie Ramazani is still considered in condition after missing five games due to muscle problems. Coach Carlos Corberan is likely to make just one change: Hugo Duro as an option up front.

Levante lost Pablo Martinez to an ankle problem, but Unai Vencedor is back after being suspended. Ivan Romero, who has returned from injury, is likely to drop since the early minutes with Eyong.

This match is tricky because Levante is more comfortable playing away, while Valencia is struggling at Mestalla this season. But with public pressure and urgent need to win, Valencia is expected to take advantage of the gaps in the Levante defense that tend to open up.

Derby this could be the night Los Che finally broke the curse of two months without a win, as well as gave a loud alarm to Levante who continued to live in danger in the relegation area.

Estimates of the line-up:Valencia: Agirezabala; Correia, Tarrega, Copete, Gaya; Lopez, Guerra, Pepelu, Danjuma; Duro, Almeida Levante: Ryan; Toljan, Dela, Moreno, Sanchez; Alvarez, Elgezabal, Arriaga, Olasagasti; Romero, Eyong

Score prediction: Valencia 2-1 Levante.