Levante and Rayo Vallecano have kicked off the season with identical records, arriving at their match at Ciutat de València level on points. The home team is eager to secure its first victory of the season on their turf, while the visitors aim to continue their upward trend in the standings.
Levante suffered losses to Barcelona and Real Madrid in their opening matches but managed to earn a draw against Real Betis in front of their fans. Like Rayo Vallecano, their only win thus far has come away from home.
Coach Julián Calero has all his players fit, including internationals Mathew Ryan, Kervin Arriaga, and Etta Eyong, all of whom return without injuries after representing their countries. Matturro and Pampín have also recovered from muscle injuries just in time for this crucial match. Calero is expected to maintain his starting lineup, building on the momentum from an away win and a draw in their last two fixtures. His squad features in-form strikers Iván Romero and Etta, who have scored four and five goals, respectively.
On the other side, Rayo Vallecano approaches the game with confidence after enjoying a break following two consecutive victories against Shkendija from North Macedonia in the Conference League and Real Sociedad in La Liga. These wins have calmed tensions within the team and boosted confidence for the demanding season ahead, which involves juggling three competitions.
Rayo’s manager Iñigo Pérez will be without defender Luiz Felipe and midfielder Nobel Mendy due to injuries. As a result, Pathé Ciss is expected to continue in defense. In their attacking lineup, Jorge de Frutos, fresh from international duty, will be a key asset alongside Brazilian forward Alemão, who is yet to score after five matches with the club.
The left-wing position remains uncertain, as Álvaro García has only recently returned to full training after dealing with muscular issues. If he is unable to play, Fran Pérez is poised to step up, having demonstrated his potential to be an important player this season.
This match promises to be a pivotal encounter for both teams, providing a chance for Levante to finally find their footing at home while Rayo Vallecano looks to build on their recent success.