Preview: Alaves vs. Levante - prediction, team news, lineups

Both Alaves and Levante will be desperate for three points in their quest for La Liga survival when the pair meet on Saturday evening.

Alaves are currently hovering just above the relegation zone, while a win would take Levante to within one point of their opponents.

Match preview

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Having escaped relegation in the final stages of the 2020-21 campaign, Alaves have not yet fixed the issues that nearly saw them demoted last season.

One win from their first nine La Liga encounters this season saw them yo-yo-ing between the bottom of the table and 19th place.

In recent weeks their fortunes have changed with a mini unbeaten run starting to develop itself, including last weekend's 1-1 draw away to Barcelona.

Alaves became the latest side this season to pile the misery on their more illustrious opponents, and the Glorious One will be keen to take more points off Catalonian opposition on Saturday.

Extending their run without a defeat when Levante come to town could prove a manageable task for Javier Calleja's side, who are unbeaten itself in the last five meetings against the weekend's opponents.

Having drawn both of last season's fixtures, Alaves had won the previous three games between the pair, with Levante's last victory in the clash coming in September 2018.

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In fact, Levante boast just one win in the past 10 meetings with Alaves, suggesting that Saturday's relegation six-pointer could come at a wrong time for the Frogs.

Levante have not won a game in the league yet, and following Getafe's triumph over Espanyol last weekend, they are now the only side in Spain's top flight to be without a victory at this stage.

Despite their winless returns, Levante have managed to record six draws this season, meaning they do not head into the fixture as the bottom-placed side.

That position is still occupied by Getafe, yet given how Javier Pereira's side have fared this season, slipping to the foot of the table by the end of the weekend looks like a very real prospect for Levante.

Team News

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In a bid to avoid relegation, Alaves turned to the loan market at the start of the season but are yet to reap the rewards from their young arrivals.

One of the stand-out acquisitions was Facundo Pellistri, who arrived from Manchester United in January, yet the right winger has not registered one goal contribution in 23 La Liga appearances.

Much of Alaves' attacking burden this season has fallen on the shoulders of Joselu, and it is the former Stoke City striker's three goals that have helped the Glorious One avoid slipping into the relegation zone.

If Alaves are to find a way past Levante, they will be forced to do it without the services of defender Ximo Navarro, who will miss the match through a sustained knee injury.

In contrast to Alaves' sole absentee, Levante are without a number of players for the visit, with six first-team regulars expected to be absent.

Rober Pier was sent off in the closing stages of their recent draw with Atletico Madrid, and having sat out one game of his suspension already, the centre-back still has another two to go.

Having made seven La Liga appearances this term, the Levante forward line will be hampered by the absence of Roger Marti who is ruled out with a muscle injury.

Other players in the Levante treatment room include Nemanja Radoja (leg), Gonzalo Melero (hamstring), Shkodran Mustafi (groin) and Sergio Postigo (calf).

Alaves possible starting lineup:
Sivera; Navarro, Laguardia, Lejeune, Duarte; Loum, Moya; Mendez, Pons, Rioja; Joselu

Levante possible starting lineup:
Fernandez; Vezo, Duarte, Clerc; Masla, Franquesa, Martinez, de Frutos, Bardhi; Soldado, Morales

We say: Alaves 1-1 Levante

If Levante have any hopes of escaping the drop, then they will need to arrest their current run without a win sharpish.

Alaves could present them with the perfect opportunity to do just that, yet they are a side in a similar situation and will be equally desperate for the points.

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