Levante and Athletic Bilbao should meet high up the pitch, with both teams ready to challenge the first pass. Levante can also go directly behind Athletic's advanced defenders. In Madrid, Real Madrid's wide and central supply meets a Leipzig side that can break forward quickly but has repeatedly allowed chances away from home. These matches hinge on how the first attack changes the space for the next one.
Levante's home pressure can put the next ball near Rey and Olasagasti, with Brugué and Romero receiving ahead of them. Athletic can punish a loose Levante pass, yet Sancet and Guruzeta are out after missing or leaving the Valencia game, and Nico's minutes are uncertain. Athletic's possession at Valencia did not become many close attempts, while Levante have shown a direct outlet and a late receiving chain. I expect enough Levante box access to stay in the contest, so I'm siding with Levante to avoid defeat.
Madrid can bring Vinícius down one side, then find Güler, Bellingham and Mbappé for the next box touch. Mourinho has said Vinícius starts after sitting out Sevilla, while Leipzig's Guiu and Ouédraogo were already missing against Bayern and Baumgartner is only a limited returning option. Leipzig's Nusa and Gruda can answer from a regain, but Bayern, Bayer and Como all exposed repeated gaps in Leipzig's away defence. Madrid have several ways to reach those gaps across the match, and I'm siding with Real Madrid for a clear win.
