Levante and Athletic are set up for a contest between a home press and quick runs behind it. Levante have shown they can still reach the box after an early setback, while Athletic’s territorial play has not always produced clean finishes. Sporting should control long stretches against LASK, but the visitors have forward outlets to keep the game active beyond Sporting’s first wave. Both matches turn on what each side produces after the initial pressure is beaten.
Levante’s Brugué and Romero can turn regains into entries before Athletic’s central defenders settle. Their home attack kept creating against Sevilla, and changes from the bench added a later response. Athletic can release Iñaki Williams into the space behind Levante’s press, but its attack produced little at Valencia with several current creators already involved. Guruzeta’s knee injury followed that match, Sancet remains out, and Nico’s squad return does not yet establish a full playing role. Levante have the more convincing route to stay in the contest, so I’m siding with Levante at home.
Sporting can move the ball wide and look for Suárez, with Inácio helping them pass through an early press. LASK’s compact back line can make those possessions longer, then use Horvath’s restored service and Dibango’s width to reach Kalajdžić or Adeniran. Sporting’s win at Lens still allowed sustained chances, and LASK rotated several players before this match while preserving its forward outlets. A close first half can bring LASK’s second-ball and chasing attack further into play after the interval. That is why I’m siding with LASK away.
