Sevilla faces Levante Sunday and one overlooked factor could derail hosts’ resurrection

Sevilla – Levante clash this Sunday with the hosts looking to bounce back from consecutive defeats and extend their home dominance over La Liga’s bottom-of-the-table visitors. With Levante seeking their first win since October, this matchday 18 fixture promises to showcase the gap between a struggling side and a team hunting European qualification.

Sevilla Seeking Response After Real Madrid Loss

Sevilla enters this fixture in 10th place with 20 points from 17 matches played. Los Nervionenses suffered back-to-back defeats heading into this contest, including a 2-0 loss to Real Madrid in their final match before the winter break and an earlier Copa del Rey knockout against Alaves. Manager Matias Almeyda‘s side has shown inconsistency throughout 2025-26 with six wins, two draws, and nine defeats.

The home advantage at Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán carries extra weight given recent performances. Sevilla have dropped four of their eight home matches, a concerning statistic for a club with European aspirations. However, their record against Levante provides genuine confidence—the hosts have won four consecutive meetings with their visitors and claimed a 3-2 victory when these teams last clashed in April 2022. Currently sitting just three points behind seventh-placed Celta Vigo, a win propels them back toward the European places.

Levante’s Basement Battle Continues Under New Regime

Levante arrives as La Liga’s bottom-dwellers, accumulating merely 10 points across 16 matches—a dire tally that already has relegation specialists discussing escape routes. The club appointed Luis Castro, the 45-year-old Portuguese manager, on December 20 in hopes of reversing their catastrophic slide. Castro’s short stint with Nantes offered mixed results, meaning expectation management will be crucial in this early phase.

Ironically, Levante‘s away form presents their greatest threat to Sevilla. The visitors have gathered eight of their 10 points on their travels, suggesting the prospect of facing a weakened home side holds genuine appeal. Nevertheless, Levante‘s record against Sevilla is utterly dire—they’ve lost eight of their last nine matchups and haven’t secured an away victory in this fixture since January 2014. That’s over a decade of hurt on the road.

Statistic	Sevilla	Levante
League Position	10th	20th (Bottom)
Points Earned	20 from 17 games	10 from 16 games
Goals Scored	TBA	17 in 16 matches
Defensive Record	26 conceded	29 conceded (2nd worst)

Key Injury Absences Shape Selection Decisions

Sevilla face notable availability challenges heading into this matchday. Defender Gabriel Suazo is out through injury and unavailable, while Marcão serves a suspension following his red card against Real Madrid. Additionally, both Akor Adams and Chidera Ejuke are away on AFCON duty with their national teams. Midfielder Ruben Vargas requires assessment after picking up a muscular issue, creating further uncertainty in team selection.

The absence of these players means Isaac Romero, who has four goals this season, will likely lead the attack alongside Alexis Sanchez. Andres Castrin steps in defensively, while Oso covers the left-wing-back position. Levante meanwhile suffer their own problems—Roger Brugue and Unai Elgezabal are sidelined through injury while Manu Sánchez faces suspension. Most significantly, Etta Eyong, who has netted six times this campaign, misses out due to his involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations. Ivan Romero, on four goals from 15 appearances, steps into the vacancy.

Can Levante’s Managerial Change Spark Immediate Improvement?

The arrival of new manager Luis Castro signifies Levante’s desperation for transformation. Coming off their worst league campaign in recent memory, the club needed urgency in the dugout. Castro’s appointment carried hopes that experience could mold a struggling squad into something competitive. However, managing expectations remains critical—one change doesn’t immediately reverse systemic problems.

Levante‘s defensive vulnerabilities expose their fundamental weakness. With 29 goals conceded—the second-worst record in the division—they leak opportunities constantly. While Castro may tighten things defensively, the immediate impact against an eager Sevilla side seeking redemption seems unlikely. The visitors possess just two wins all season and haven’t secured three points since October, a drought lasting nearly three months. This stat alone demonstrates the scale of Levante’s crisis.

Will Sevilla Convert Home Dominance Into Points?

Sevilla‘s superior quality favors a comfortable victory, yet their recent performances suggest caution remains warranted. Los Nervionenses sit uncomfortably in 10th place after consecutive defeats, meaning momentum works against them heading into Sunday. Levante’s away form—gathering eight points on their travels—offers a glimmer of hope that suggests they’ll compete better than their league position implies.

The psychological edge belongs to Sevilla. Four straight victories over Levante instill confidence, while Levante’s decade-long away drought in this fixture weighs heavily. Matias Almeyda‘s squad simply must translate home advantage and superior personnel into three points. Anything less risks falling further adrift of European qualification places they desperately need to target.

“Sevilla’s superior quality in attack and home advantage should give them the edge in this match, but Levante could prove tricky on the break.”

— WhoScored Analysis, La Liga Statistical Preview

Sources

• Sports Mole – Comprehensive match preview with team news and lineups
• WhoScored – Statistical analysis and tactical assessment
• Sky Sports – Form statistics and head-to-head records