Relegation clash to close matchday 12
The ball is rolling again on the international stage next week. To ensure that the participating teams have enough regeneration time, these teams were in action early on in the weekend. Accordingly, the twelfth matchday in the Spanish LaLiga concludes with two teams that hold the status of “cellar child”. At the Ciutat de Valencia, Levante and Granada face each other
The football fans will probably not get to see a football treat here, rather fight and cramp will determine the game. The hosts, along with Getafe, are one of two LaLiga teams that are winless so far this season. Granada have won once and are unbeaten in three games. Nevertheless, Levante are considered clear favourites against Granada according to current betting odds.
Levante is winless, but shows very appealing performances again and again. In the English week, for example, they managed a surprising point at home against champions Atletico Madrid with a 2-2 draw. The draws are too little in the long run, however, and victories are needed.
Levante – Statistics & current form
At the beginning of October, the club reacted to the ongoing misery and dismissed coach Paco Lopez after almost three and a half years. His successor, Javier Pereira, came as quite a surprise, as the 55-year-old had previously only appeared as a co-coach, including at Levante (2012/13). He has only worked as a head coach in 2009/2010 at Alaves and in China at HN S Longmen (September 2020 to October 2021).
Five goals in two games
Since three games, Pereira has been with Levante, conceding just one defeat. An away defeat in Sevilla is certainly not a big surprise, and the performance in the 5-3 defeat was also very respectable. In general, Levante are much more attacking under Pereira than in the past under Paco Lopez.
The two goals in the home match against Atletico Madrid were scored by the North Macedonian international Enis Bardhi from the penalty spot. This brings Levante’s tally to five goals in the last two games, compared to just six in nine games before that.
However, it is striking that Levante are surprisingly much more dangerous offensively against top teams than against teams at eye level. In addition to these five goals, three more were scored against Real Madrid.
Four draws in five home games
The only defeat Levante suffered at home was a 2-0 loss to Galicians Celta Vigo. The four remaining home games all ended in a draw. Late Monday evening odds of 3.50 are on offer for Levante against Granada.
The 19th-placed team will have to make a slight change after Rober Pier was sent off with a yellow card in the closing stages against Atletico Madrid. However, Levante will probably not change their 5-2-1-2 formation. Sergio Postigo is a candidate for the vacant place in the starting line-up.
Predicted line-up of Levante:
Fernandez – Franquesa, Duarte, Postigo, Vezo, Son – Pepelu, Malsa – Bardhi – Gomez, Moralas
Last matches played by Levante:
LaLiga
10/28 2021 – Levante 2 – 2 Atletico Madrid
10/24 2021 – Sevilla 5 – 3 Levante
10/16 2021 – Levante 0 – 0 Getafe
10/02 2021 – Mallorca 1 – 0 Levante
09/26 2021 – Barcelona 3 – 0 Levante
Granada – Statistics & current form
Diego Martinez and Granada FC was a great success story. The young coach led Granada back to the first division and achieved strong finishes of sixth and ninth. As a result, the Andalusians were even represented internationally last season. Nevertheless, they parted ways after three successful years, as Martinez did not want to extend his expiring contract.
Big shoes to fill for Roberto Moreno
An exciting personnel matter is successor Roberto Moreno. For a long time he acted in the second row and was co-coach of Luis Enrique at Celta Vigo, Barcelona and Spain. When Enrique took a break due to leukaemia, he took over the Spanish team and celebrated nine victories in ten games.
After Enrique’s return, he had to cut back again, left the national team and had a short, unhappy engagement with AS Monaco. His time in Andalusia so far must also be described as unhappy and unsuccessful. Out of ten league games, only the home derby against Sevilla FC was won. Otherwise, there have been five draws and four defeats; this makes a total of six and twelve points respectively less than in the last two years after ten games.
The morale is right – last-minute equalisers twice
The derby win against Sevilla was a first respectable success and the clear sign that the team is intact despite a difficult situation. Moreno’s team also proved this in the English week, as Granada equalised in injury time in both the away game against CA Osasuna and the home game against Getafe. Against Getafe, veteran Jorge Molina (39) only scored in the 97th minute.
Winning a point twice in the last minute is a big boost for self-confidence. With the series of three games without defeat, the Moreno eleven is certainly on the right track. We would by no means describe the visitors as such clear underdogs against a team that is still winless; accordingly, betting on double chance X2, draw no-bet 2 and, with a little risk, outright away victory is a good option for Levante against Granada.
Predicted line-up of Granada:
Luis Maximiano – Escudero, Abram, Diaz, Quini – Montoro, Milla, Monchu – Machis, Suarez, Rochina
Last matches played by Granada:
LaLiga
10/28 2021 – Granada 1 – 1 Getafe
10/22 2021 – Osasuna Pamplona 1 – 1 Granada
10/03 2021 – Granada 1 – 0 Sevilla
09/27 2021 – Celta Vigo 1 – 0 Granada
09/23 2021 – Granada 2 – 3 San Sebastian
Levante – Granada Direct comparison / H2H balance
The two teams have faced each other a total of 48 times in Spain’s two highest divisions. The direct comparison is completely balanced and both Levante and Granada have celebrated 20 victories so far. With only eight draws, point-splits have been absolutely rare, but in the last three LaLiga games between Levante and Granada, the prediction on the draw was the right choice.
Levante – Granada prediction
The relegation battle rounds off the twelfth matchday in the Spanish football top flight and the odds offered between Levante and Granada are to be questioned. Levante managed a remarkable draw against the champions during the week, but after eleven games without a win, there is definitely no value to be found at 2.00 for a home win.
The Andalusian side’s results so far have certainly not lived up to their expectations, but Moreno’s side have also been on the rise after three games without defeat and have shown great morale recently with two late equalisers. Qualitatively, Granada even tends to be a tad stronger.
The away win is a little too risky due to the draw risk in Levante home games (four draws in five games), but for Levante against Granada, lucrative odds of just under 3.00 are still offered for the forecast on the draw no-bet market. A bet that definitely brings value and is accordingly played with four units.
