Villarreal Host Levante in La Liga Relegation Six-Pointer at Estadio de la Cerámica

Key facts

• Villarreal (65 points) sit 3rd in La Liga; Levante (33 points) are 19th.
• Matchweek 34 fixture at Estadio de la Cerámica on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 8:00 AM EST.
• Villarreal won the reverse fixture 1-0 earlier this season.
• Marcelino Toral has 14 wins, 6 draws, 7 defeats in 27 career matches against Levante.
• Levante are winless in six consecutive away matches and have one win in their last nine on the road.
• Villarreal's goal differential is +21 (59 scored, 38 conceded); Levante's is -13 (37 scored, 50 conceded).
• Arnau Tenas starts in goal for Villarreal; Mathew Ryan for Levante.

High Stakes at the Cerámica as Season Enters Final Month

Villarreal welcome Levante to the Estadio de la Cerámica on Saturday for a La Liga encounter that carries vastly different implications for each side. The home team, sitting third with 65 points, are firmly in the Champions League places, while the visitors occupy 19th position with 33 points, deep in the relegation mire. With only five matchweeks remaining after this fixture, every point is critical. Villarreal can take a major step toward securing elite European football next season, while Levante need a result to keep their slim survival hopes alive.

Marcelino’s Men Seek to Extend Winning Run

Marcelino Toral’s side arrive on the back of a 2-1 victory over Celta de Vigo on April 26. That result extended their strong campaign, which has yielded 20 wins, five draws and eight defeats from 33 matches. Villarreal average 1.97 points per game and have scored 59 goals while conceding 38, giving them a goal differential of +21. The manager has a favourable historical record against Saturday’s opponent: in 27 previous meetings with Levante, Toral has recorded 14 wins, six draws and seven defeats. He also holds a perfect personal record against Levante boss Luís Castro, having won their only prior encounter.

Levante’s Desperate Fight for Survival

Luís Castro’s Levante are enduring a torrid campaign, with just eight wins, nine draws and 16 losses. Their 33 points leave them second from bottom, and their goal differential of -13 underscores their struggles at both ends of the pitch. The team has conceded 50 goals — the fourth-worst defensive record in the division — while managing only 37 goals. There are faint signs of a recovery: Levante are unbeaten in their last three matches, including a 0-0 draw with Espanyol on April 27. However, their away form remains dire. They have won only one of their last nine road fixtures and are on a run of six consecutive away matches without a victory.

Key Personnel and Tactical Matchups

Villarreal will start Arnau Tenas in goal. The Spanish goalkeeper has made 32 saves in 11 career appearances, posting a save percentage of 69.6% and conceding 1.34 goals per 90 minutes. He will be protected by a back four likely to include Alex Freeman, Renato Veiga, Rafa Marín and Alfonso Pedraza. At the other end, Alberto Moleiro is Villarreal’s primary attacking threat. The forward has scored 22 goals and provided 18 assists in his career, averaging 0.17 goals per 90 minutes. He will be supported by Gerard Moreno and Georges Mikautadze. Levante counter with goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, who has 44 clean sheets in 182 career starts and a save percentage of 68.2%. His defence will feature Jeremy Toljan, Matías Moreno, Adrián de la Fuente and Manu Sánchez. Up front, Ivan Romero poses the main danger: he has scored 22 goals in 7,621 professional minutes, averaging 0.26 goals per 90, and has contributed nine assists.

Statistical Breakdown and Betting Landscape

Villarreal’s expected goals (xG) stand at 18.3, while their expected goals against are 18.6, indicating they have outperformed underlying metrics. They have recorded 83 saves with a save rate of 66.4%, and have kept eight clean sheets this season (24.2% of matches). The team has accumulated 72 yellow cards and three red cards. Levante’s xG is 20.5, slightly higher than Villarreal’s, but they have conceded 50 actual goals against an xGA of roughly 20.5, suggesting defensive underperformance. They have 117 saves with a save percentage of 69.3%, and also eight clean sheets. Their discipline has been worse: 76 yellow cards and four red cards. Betting markets heavily favour the home side: Villarreal are priced at -210 on the moneyline, while Levante are +172. The over/under is set at 3 goals.

Wider Context: A Season of Contrasts

This match epitomises the diverging fortunes of two clubs with very different seasons. Villarreal have been one of La Liga’s most consistent sides, averaging 1.97 points per match and ranking third in the Big 5 leagues with 38 assists. Their 20 wins are the third-most in the division, and they have already secured a top-four position with a five-point cushion over fifth-placed opponents. Levante, by contrast, have averaged just 1.0 point per match and are 19th in the Big 5 rankings. Their 22 assists and 37 goals reflect a lack of cutting edge, while their 50 goals conceded highlight defensive fragility. The club has not won away from home since early March, and their run of six straight away matches without a win is the longest current streak in the bottom half of the table.

What Lies Ahead for Both Sides

For Villarreal, victory would all but confirm Champions League football next season and allow Marcelino to rotate in the final weeks. A defeat, however, could reopen the race for third place with four matches left. Levante face a must-win scenario. Anything less than three points would leave them seven points adrift of safety with four games remaining, assuming other results go against them. Their remaining fixtures include matches against direct relegation rivals, but their away form offers little cause for optimism. The match kicks off at 8:00 AM EST on Saturday, May 2, at the Estadio de la Cerámica in Villarreal, Spain.

The bottom line

• Villarreal (3rd, 65 pts) host Levante (19th, 33 pts) in La Liga matchweek 34 on May 2.
• Villarreal won the previous meeting 1-0 and have won 14 of 27 all-time matches against Levante under Marcelino Toral.
• Levante are winless in six consecutive away games and have only one away win all season.
• Villarreal’s goal differential (+21) contrasts sharply with Levante’s (-13).
• Alberto Moleiro (22 career goals) and Ivan Romero (22 career goals) are the key attacking players.
• Betting markets heavily favour Villarreal (-210 moneyline) with an over/under of 3 goals.