Espanyol host Levante as La Liga returns for both sides
Espanyol open their La Liga campaign at home to Levante, a fixture that brings together two sides who met twice already this year without either finding a winner. Both of last season's meetings ended level, 0-0 in April and 1-1 in January, and that pattern of stalemate looms over this latest instalment at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat.
Form and history
Espanyol arrive on the back of a five-match run that yielded two wins and three draws, without a defeat, while Levante's recent sequence has been more turbulent, with three wins and two losses across their last five outings. That leaves Levante with the slightly better win tally over the same stretch, even if Espanyol's unbeaten run suggests a steadier footing heading into the new campaign.
The two clubs' head-to-head record has swung between spells of draws and one-sided results. Their most recent Segunda División encounters produced clear outcomes in Espanyol's favour, 2-1 in February 2024 and a 4-1 win in September 2023, but since returning to shared La Liga status the meetings have settled into stalemates, including a 1-1 draw back in March 2022.
What to expect
With matchday one arriving on 16 August, both sides will be looking to set an early tone for their season. Espanyol's recent draws suggest a team capable of avoiding defeat but still searching for greater consistency in front of goal, while Levante's more erratic form points to a side capable of moments of quality but also vulnerable to slip-ups.
Given the history between these two clubs, another tight contest would not be a surprise, though Levante's stronger recent win rate offers them a case for approaching the trip with confidence.