Levante vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

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Levante

vs

Athletic Bilbao

KickoffWednesday 16 September 2026, 8:30pm

VenueEstadio Ciudad de Valencia

CompetitionSpanish La Liga

Levante go into this one looking over their shoulder a little, if we are being honest. Five points from five games is not a disaster, but the manner of that 4-2 hiding at the hands of Barcelona last time out will have stung, and Luis Castro will know his side need to rediscover some defensive solidity before this campaign gets away from them. They showed earlier in the season they can mix it with decent sides, that win over Real Betis proved that, but the Lions are a different animal to navigate at home, especially right now.

Athletic Bilbao arrive at this one in the kind of form that makes them genuinely tricky to face. Yes, they stumbled at the start of the season with back to back defeats to Sevilla and Barcelona, but since the end of August they have looked a completely different side. Seven points from three games, including that stunning 3-0 over Atletico Madrid, tells you Edin Terzic has got something clicking. The squad has real quality throughout, and they look like a team determined to push well beyond the 12th place finish they managed last term.

Levante vs Athletic Bilbao Match Details

This La Liga fixture takes place at Levante’s Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, with the home side looking to get their season back on track after a bruising week. Athletic Bilbao come into this as the side in better shape, making this one of the more intriguing midweek fixtures in the Spanish top flight right now.

Team News

Both sides are carrying a few knocks into this one, with Levante in particular feeling the pinch in a couple of key areas. Castro will need to shuffle things around after the Barcelona defeat, though some of those changes may actually freshen the side up rather than weaken it.

• Karl Etta Eyong is absent for Levante with a thigh problem
• Alejandro Primo is a major doubt due to a shoulder issue
• Enzo Bardeli, Ivan Romero and Oriol Rey are all pushing to come into the Levante starting eleven
• Brugue is expected to retain his spot out wide for the hosts
• Athletic are without Peio Canales, Gorka Guruzeta, Dani Vivian and Unai Eguiluz through injury
• Terzic reports no fresh injury concerns beyond those four absentees
• Mikel Jauregizar is pushing hard to start in midfield for the visitors

Predicted Lineups

Castro looks set to make several changes from the side that shipped four against Barcelona. Bardeli and Romero coming back in should add a bit more energy in the middle and further forward, while Rey offers another midfield option. Brugue keeping his wide role gives Levante an outlet and someone to stretch the Athletic back line.

Terzic will likely tweak his midfield with Jauregizar getting the nod from the start, while the front four picks itself really. Nico Williams, Sancet and Navarro feeding off Inaki Williams is the kind of attacking unit that will give any defence a seriously uncomfortable evening.

• Levante: Ryan; Toljan, Dela, Mandi, Sanchez; Garcia, Rey, Bardeli, Brugue; Romero, Ratkov
• Athletic Bilbao: Simon; Areso, Alvarez, Laporte, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar; Navarro, Sancet, N Williams; I Williams

Recent Form

Levante’s season so far reads like a tale of two very different sides turning up on alternate weeks. The 3-0 opening day defeat to Espanyol was a real concern, then they steadied themselves with draws against Osasuna and Malaga either side of a genuinely impressive victory over Real Betis. That Betis win suggested there might be something to work with here, a team capable of putting it together against quality opposition when they are at it. But then Barcelona came to town and pulled them apart 4-2, and now the doubts are back. One win, two draws, two defeats and a goal difference that will not fill Castro with confidence heading into a game against an in form visiting side.

Athletic Bilbao are a completely different story right now. After those opening defeats to Sevilla and Barcelona, this team could have gone into its shell and spent the next few weeks grinding out cautious results. Instead they turned it around emphatically. A 2-0 win over Celta Vigo got the momentum going, then they went and put three past Atletico Madrid without reply, which is not something many sides in La Liga manage to do. The 1-1 draw with Elche last time out felt like a minor slip rather than a wobble, and with seven points from those last three matches, Terzic’s side go into this one with real confidence running through them.

The contrast in trajectories is stark. Levante are coming off a hammering and trying to regroup, Athletic are riding a wave and hunting down more points before the international break hits. Momentum matters in football, and right now all of it is pointing in one direction.

Head-to-Head Record

The historical record between these two clubs is heavily skewed in Athletic’s favour and it is not particularly close. Over the last 38 meetings in all competitions, Levante have managed just eight victories. Athletic have won eight of the last 11 encounters between the sides while drawing the other three, which means Levante have not beaten the Lions in any of those 11 games. The most recent clash, back in February of this year, finished 4-2 to Athletic, and if you want to go back to the last time Levante actually won one of these, you are travelling all the way to December 2018 and a 3-0 home success. That is nearly eight years without a win in this fixture for the hosts.

That kind of head to head weight does not guarantee anything in isolation, but when you combine it with the current form picture, it becomes a very significant piece of context. This is not a fixture where Levante have historically found a way to dig in and cause problems. Athletic know how to handle them.

Key Stats

• Levante have not beaten Athletic Bilbao since December 2018, a run stretching across 11 matches without a win in this fixture
• Athletic have taken seven points from their last three La Liga matches, scoring five goals and conceding just one in that run
• The last meeting between these clubs ended 4-2 to Athletic, underlining the visitors’ dominance in this head to head

Levante vs Athletic Bilbao Betting Tips

Athletic Bilbao look the value here across several markets. They are the side in form, they have the stronger recent record in this exact fixture, and Levante are coming off a demoralising defeat while missing key players. The Lions have an attack that can really hurt sides, and Levante’s defensive numbers this season do not inspire confidence. There is plenty to work with from a betting perspective.

Cards Prediction

This one has the feel of a game where Levante’s players might get a little frustrated as the evening wears on, especially if Athletic get on top early. A high card count would not surprise here. Back over three and a half cards for the match.

Over and Under Goals Prediction

Athletic’s attack is sharp right now, and Levante have already shown this season they can be cut open when faced with genuine quality. The last meeting produced six goals between the sides. Back over two and a half goals here with a fair amount of confidence.

Corners Prediction

Athletic play with width and like to get Nico Williams in particular driving at full backs, which tends to generate corner counts naturally. Levante will need to push forward at some point to chase the game if it goes against them. Over nine and a half corners looks a solid shout in this one.

Correct Score Prediction

Athletic winning 2-1 feels like the most natural outcome here. Levante will likely create enough to get themselves on the scoresheet at home, but the Lions have the quality to go up the other end and take the three points regardless. A 2-1 Athletic victory fits the pattern of this fixture and the current form of both sides.

Both Teams To Score (BTTS) Prediction

Yes, both teams to score looks worth backing here. Levante have found the net in most of their games this season and they carry a threat going forward despite their defensive issues. Athletic meanwhile have been scoring freely, but they have also conceded in recent weeks. BTTS yes at this ground makes sense.

Bet Builder Tip

An Athletic win in a game where both sides find the net and goals flow beyond two and a half ties together naturally given the attacking quality on show and Levante’s vulnerability at the back.

Final Match Prediction

Athletic Bilbao are the right side to be on here. The form is there, the head to head record is there, and Levante are at a low point in their early season. Castro will try to set up in a way that makes life difficult, and the home crowd can lift them, but this Athletic attack with Nico Williams, Sancet and Inaki Williams pulling strings is a serious threat to any defence in Spain right now, let alone one that just conceded four to Barcelona.

Levante will get a goal, this is not a shutout kind of fixture given how the recent meetings have gone, but Athletic should have enough to come away with all three points. Levante 1-2 Athletic Bilbao is the call.

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