It might still be November, and maybe it’s a bit too early to slap the “relegation six-pointer” tag on any La Liga match, but this Valencia vs Levante derby at Mestalla on Friday night really does carry that kind of heavy energy.
Softfootball understands that both teams sit uncomfortably in the bottom four, scraping for every point they can manage, and honestly, the tension around the city is already thick. Valencia sit on 10 points, Levante on 9, and somehow that tiny one-point gap feels much bigger than it looks on paper.
The international break gave fans a few days to breathe, but all that calm disappears now. This is a derby loaded with local pride, desperation, and that “we can’t afford to slip again” feeling both sides know too well.
Team News
Valencia boss Carlos Corberan has a couple of serious headaches, especially in defence. Mouctar Diakhaby is still out with a hamstring issue, Dimitri Foulquier remains sidelined, and winger Filip Ugrinic won’t feature either. Largie Ramazani is still 50/50—he hasn’t played in five games, so even if he’s passed fit late, he might not be fully sharp.
Levante, meanwhile, have a slightly brighter outlook much to the relief of coach Julian Calero. Pablo Martínez is unavailable with an ankle injury, but Unai Vencedor returns after suspension, which is a big boost for midfield stability. Ivan Romero is expected back in the starting XI, linking up again with the in-form Etta Eyong, whose name has been buzzing around Europe with all the transfer speculation.
Despite both teams being expected to go at each other, Valencia posted images from Mestalla of the closest both teams will be to a less hostile encounter. As revealed on X via the club’s official account, Valencia hosted the pre-derby event with the coaches and captains of both teams posing for a picture.
They Posted:
Predicted Lineups
Valencia possible starting lineup:
Agirrezabala; Correia, Tarrega, Copete, Gaya; Lopez, Guerra, Pepelu, Danjuma; Duro, Almeida
Levante possible starting lineup:
Ryan; Toljan, Dela, Moreno, Sanchez; Alvarez, Elgezabal, Arriaga, Olasagasti; Romero, Eyong
Softfootball Prediction
History leans heavily toward Valencia. They’ve lost just once in their last ten derbies and remain unbeaten at Mestalla in this matchup, with 12 wins and 7 draws. But recent form paints a way less comfortable picture. Valencia haven’t won in 7 of their last 8 games.
Although they got a point in the 1-1 draw at home to Real Betis, their 4-0 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid before that points to a larger problem, while Levante surprisingly pick up most of their points away from home but at home they are a disaster, even failing to get a draw from Barcelona earlier in the campaign in the 3-2 defeat at home despite having the advantage at some point and conceding the last goal via an unfortunate own goal.
Stats hint at goals too. Levante’s away fixtures usually open up, and both Duro and Eyong are the types who can punish even tiny defensive mistakes. Both sides concede too easily, so clean sheets honestly feel unlikely.
Softfootball leans toward a 2–1 Valencia win, mostly thanks to home advantage and the psychological edge at Mestalla and with neither team exactly rock-solid at the back, a Valencia win + both teams scoring feels like one of the smarter bets for this derby.
