Valencia vs Levante Betting Tips: Latest odds, team news, preview and predictions

Valencia welcome cross-city rivals Levante to Mestalla on Sunday evening, with Los Che looking to take a step closer to fourth place in La Liga.

Marcelino's side were impressive on Thursday evening winning 3-1 at Villarreal in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final and they will be confident ahead of the derby.

Levante for their part are in serious trouble having seen a 10-point cushion to the relegation zone cut to just three following a seven match winless streak. 

Latest odds

The host boast an extremely strong record at Mestalla where they have lost just one of their last 18 league games. SportPesa offer them at 20/49 (1.51) for another win and Los Che have won each of their last four home Valencia derbies.

Since claiming victory at the Bernabeu in October Levante have triumphed in just one of their subsequent 11 away games and are priced at 5/1 (6.00) with the draw at 33/10 (4.30).

Team news

Valencia have Ferran Torres and Fernando Roncaglia both suspended for the game, while Geoffrey Kondogbia is out for the rest of the season.

Marcelino is likley to make a couple of changes given the second leg of their European quarter-final is coming up on Thursday, but not a wholesale shake up as reaching the Champions League remains a key objective for Valencia. Levante have Sergio Postigo and Cheick Doukoure missing.

Preview

From a neutral's perspective Levante are an exciting team to watch, boasting the sixth best attack in the division but the worst defence. Valencia meanwhile have conceded the second fewest goals behind Atletico Madrid in La Liga this season, and the injury time consolation strike scored by Karim Benzmea in their last home match ended a run of five consecutive clean sheets at Mestalla.

Goal

Valencia have only conceded nine goals at home this term yet five of those came against sides struggling in the bottom part of the table in Huesca, Celta Vigo, Girona, Valladolid and Leganes.

Their games have also averaged the lowest number of goals in La Liga at 1.90 while Levante's have averaged the second highest at 3.23 behind only leaders Barcelona. 

Tips and predictions

Despite such a clash in styles, opting for a high-scoring game looks to be the best approach. Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals is offered at Evens (2.00) and this has proved a consistent winner in Levante's games this term.

Valencia have conceded in six of their last eight games in all competitions and there should be goals at both ends in this local derby on Sunday night.

Over 2.5 goals and both teams to score at evens (2.00) for a 2.5pt stake with SportPesa SportPesa