Levantevs.StokeStoke City

The Potters were deserved winners of their first pre-season clash last weekend, while Levante are still trying to get over a heartbreaking end to the 2022-23 term.

Match preview

Levante are preparing for a second season in La Liga 2 following a third-placed finish last term - one which granted them entry to the division's end-of-campaign playoffs.

Javi Calleja guided his men to a two-legged final with Deportivo Alaves in June, and after the first match finished goalless at Estadio de Mendizorroza, it was all down to June 17th's meeting at Levante's home in Valencia.

The Granotes took the fixture to extra time but a 129th-minute penalty from Alaves Asier Villalibre sent Luis Garcia's men back to the top flight of Spanish football at the expense of Levante.

Now facing another campaign in the second tier, Calleja must quickly energise a squad which gave so much to the promotion push last term, only for that dream to be shattered at the final hurdle.

Stoke's 2022-23 season was a lot less dramatic than their Spanish opposition's, with Potters placing 16th in the Championship, 16 points behind the playoffs and nine above the relegation zone.

Fans in Staffordshire have experienced little excitement since the club were relegated from the riches of the Premier League in 2018, ending up between 14th and 16th for the last five campaigns.

Former Preston North End boss Alex Neil is the man tasked with managing the Midlands side's promotion ambitions, with the 42-year-old experiencing a steady start to his reign at the bet365 Stadium since joining in August 2022.

Tyrese Campbell was Stoke's main source of second-tier goals last term, and the Englishman started pre-season off to a flying start by netting three in a 5-1 win over League Two side Notts County last weekend.

Levante friendly form:

Levante form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

D

L

Stoke City friendly form:

W

Stoke City form (all competitions):

L

L

D

L

L

W

Team News

Levante have a host of injuries hanging over them following their unsuccessful attempt to earn promotion to La Liga just over a month ago, with Pablo Martinez sidelined until November with a cruciate ligament injury.

Midfielder Jose Campana is expected to be out of action for even longer than his compatriot - the 30-year-old may not play first-team football for the remainder of this calendar year.

Stoke have added some promotion-winning experience to their defensive ranks this summer with the arrival of Enda Stevens from Sheffield United, and the Irishman could make his debut for the club in Spain this weekend.

The Potters have also recruited Ben Pearson from Bournemouth for around £1.8m, with the midfielder likely to add determination in a engine room which lost the influential William Smallbone over the off-season.

Levante possible starting lineup:

Femenias; Pubill, Vezo, Rober, Munoz; Ibanez, Benitez, De Frutos; Bouldini, Brugue

Stoke City possible starting lineup:

Bonham; Macari, Taylor, Wilmot, Tymon; Baker, Laurent, Sparrow, Brown, Tezgel; Campbell

We say: Levante 2-2 Stoke City

Levante will be keen to get back on the pitch as they look to forget that devastating result against Deportivo Alaves last month, but they could be off the mark on Saturday evening.

Stoke demolished Notts County in their first outing of the summer, and they will be confident of putting up a good fight against respectable Spanish opposition in this one.

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