Levante vs Osasuna: La Liga Clash as Relegation Battle Intensifies
On 8 May 2026, Estadio Ciudad de Valencia stages a tense La Liga clash as 19th‑placed Levante host mid‑table Osasuna in Round 35 of the regular season. The stakes are sharply contrasting: Levante are fighting to claw their way out of the relegation places, while Osasuna, 10th, are looking to cement a top‑half finish after an inconsistent campaign.
With only four matches left, Levante sit on 33 points, five adrift of Osasuna’s 42 and mired in the relegation zone. Their goal difference of -17 (38 scored, 55 conceded across all phases) underlines a season of fragility, but recent form hints at a side that refuses to go quietly. Osasuna, by contrast, have been comfortably mid‑table but are hampered by a poor away record that keeps them from pushing into European contention.
Levante: survival fight under injury cloud
Across all phases, Levante’s record of 8 wins, 9 draws and 17 defeats from 34 games explains their predicament, but there are flickers of resilience. Their recent form line in the standings (LDWWL) includes two important victories that have kept survival hopes alive.
At home, Levante have been slightly more competitive: 5 wins, 5 draws and 7 losses from 17 matches, scoring 21 and conceding 26. An average of 1.2 goals for and 1.5 against at Estadio Ciudad de Valencia paints the picture of a team that usually finds a way to create chances but struggles to keep opponents out.
The season statistics confirm the pattern: 38 goals for (1.1 per game) and 55 against (1.6 per game) across all phases. They have managed 8 clean sheets but have failed to score in 12 games, which is a dangerous combination for a team in a relegation scrap. Their biggest home win (4‑2) and heaviest home defeat (1‑4) underline the volatility of their performances.
Tactically, Levante have leaned most often on a 4‑2‑3‑1 (11 times) and 4‑4‑2 (10 times), with occasional shifts to 4‑1‑4‑1 and even back fives when trying to stabilise. The double pivot in 4‑2‑3‑1 is likely to be crucial against an Osasuna side that like to contest second balls and crosses towards Ante Budimir.
In attack, the emergence of Carlos Espí has been one of the few bright spots. The 20‑year‑old forward has 9 league goals in just 996 minutes (21 appearances, 9 starts), a prolific return for a team near the bottom. His 32 shots with 19 on target and a willingness to duel (159 duels, 75 won) suggest a direct, combative focal point. Levante have not relied on him from the spot either – he has no penalties scored or missed – so his goal tally is built from open play, which is encouraging given the team’s low overall output.
Team news, however, is a major concern. Levante are without C. Alvarez (injury), K. Arriaga (suspension for yellow cards), A. Primo (shoulder injury) and I. Romero (muscle injury). On top of that, Dela, U. Elgezabal and K. Tunde are all listed as questionable with muscle or knee problems. For a squad already stretched by a long season, this cluster of absences and doubts could force changes in both defence and midfield, potentially weakening their structure in front of a back line that already concedes at a high rate.
One positive: Levante’s penalty record as a team is clean this season – 2 taken, 2 scored – removing one typical source of late‑season nerves.
Osasuna: strong at home, fragile away
Osasuna arrive in Valencia 10th in La Liga with 42 points and a goal difference of -2 (40 for, 42 against). Their season has been defined by a stark split between home comfort and away discomfort. At El Sadar they have been excellent (9 wins, 5 draws, 3 defeats, 29‑20 goal record), but away from home they have struggled badly: just 2 wins, 4 draws and 11 defeats from 17 away games, scoring only 11 and conceding 22.
Across all phases, Osasuna’s attack averages 1.2 goals per game, but that drops to just 0.6 away, highlighting a real difficulty in sustaining pressure and converting chances on the road. Defensively, they are relatively consistent (1.2 goals conceded per match overall; 1.3 away), but the lack of away goals has repeatedly left them chasing games.
Jagoba Arrasate (or his successor) has been tactically flexible: Osasuna have used 4‑2‑3‑1 in 19 matches, but also a variety of back‑three systems (3‑4‑3, 3‑4‑2‑1, 3‑5‑2, 3‑1‑4‑2) plus occasional 4‑4‑2 and 5‑4‑1. That versatility is a strength, but the away numbers suggest they often err on the side of caution, sometimes at the expense of attacking threat.
The main reason they remain comfortably mid‑table is Ante Budimir. The Croatian striker is one of La Liga’s top scorers this season with 16 goals in 33 appearances. He has generated 76 shots (36 on target), underlining his central role in Osasuna’s attack, and wins a high volume of duels (339 contested, 161 won). In the box, he is a constant target for crosses and set pieces.
From the penalty spot, Budimir has 6 scored and 2 missed this season. That is a strong but not flawless record; if Osasuna get a spot‑kick in Valencia, there will be both confidence in his ability and a lingering awareness that he is not infallible.
Osasuna’s team penalty record in the league is perfect (6 from 6), which means that others have converted when called upon, but the individual data on Budimir makes it clear he has had two failures from the spot this term.
In terms of squad availability, Osasuna will be without V. Munoz (muscle injury), while A. Oroz is questionable. Compared with Levante’s long list, this is a relatively light injury situation and should allow them to field something close to their preferred structure, likely a 4‑2‑3‑1 or a back three with wing‑backs to exploit Levante’s flanks.
Head‑to‑head: Osasuna with the edge
The last five competitive meetings between these sides (all in La Liga) show Osasuna with a clear upper hand.
- Osasuna wins: 3
- Levante wins: 1
- Draws: 1
In December 2025, Osasuna beat Levante 2‑0 at El Sadar, controlling the match after a 2‑0 half‑time lead. In March 2022, they won 3‑1 at home, again asserting dominance in Pamplona. The most recent meeting at Estadio Ciudad de Valencia in December 2021 ended 0‑0, a rare stalemate in what has often been a tight, physical fixture. In February 2021, Osasuna edged a 1‑0 away win in Valencia, while in September 2020 Levante claimed a 3‑1 victory in Pamplona, their only success in this five‑game sample.
The pattern is clear: Osasuna have generally had the better of the matchup in recent years, including a valuable away win on this ground in 2021. Levante, though, will draw confidence from the 3‑1 win in 2020 and the 0‑0 home draw in 2021, evidence that they can frustrate and occasionally hurt the visitors.
Tactical keys
For Levante, the game likely hinges on two things: compactness without the ball and the supply line to Carlos Espí. With several midfield and defensive injuries, the choice of formation is critical. A 4‑2‑3‑1 could allow them to crowd the central zones and double up on Budimir, while leaving Espí and the wide players ready to break quickly. Their card distribution – a high volume of yellows late in games – suggests they can become stretched and desperate; managing emotions and avoiding costly late bookings or reds will be vital in a relegation dogfight.
Osasuna, despite their away struggles, will feel they can control the tempo. If they go 4‑2‑3‑1, the double pivot can screen transitions and allow full‑backs to push on and feed Budimir with crosses. If they opt for a back three, wing‑backs could overload Levante’s full‑backs and pin them deep, forcing the hosts to defend for long spells.
Given Levante’s average of 1.6 goals conceded per match and Osasuna’s modest away scoring rate, this could be a game of fine margins rather than a shoot‑out, with set pieces and individual errors looming large.
The verdict
On paper, Osasuna’s league position, superior overall record (11 wins, 9 draws, 14 defeats) and recent head‑to‑head dominance make them slight favourites. Yet their away form – only 2 wins in 17 – and Levante’s urgency in a relegation fight level the playing field.
Levante’s injuries and suspensions are a serious handicap, but their home record is not disastrous, and in Carlos Espí they have a striker capable of punishing Osasuna’s occasional lapses on the road. Osasuna, for their part, will rely heavily on Ante Budimir’s presence in the box and their perfect team penalty record to tilt tight games.
This looks set to be a tense, tactical contest. Osasuna have the higher ceiling, but Levante’s desperation and home advantage suggest a narrow, low‑scoring encounter, with a draw or a single‑goal margin either way the most logical outcome.
